BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Point guard Emily Ryan is simply the finest ninth-grade basketball phenom since Jackie Stiles, a KSHSAA and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer.
Ryan’s jersey might not ever hang in the hallway next to Stiles’ uniform, but her 22-point average has retooled the Oilers for an eventual run at a fourth consecutive Class 2A state championship.
Ryan scored 26 points and dished out more than a handful of assists for No. 1 state-ranked Class 2A Central Plains, which rolled past St. John 87-41.
Emily Ryan took her shot when she was open and dished out timely assists to Cassidy Crites (16 points) and Janae Ryan (14 points). The Oilers (5-0) converted 36 of 61 field goals for 57 percent shooting. The Oilers are averaging 77 points per game.
“Emily is a special player who really sees the court,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. “Our seniors have done a tremendous job accepting her as a teammate. They all benefit from her passing skills. Our offense was really good tonight. We played unselfish, shared the basketball and shot it really well.”
The Oilers featured full-court pressure defense that forced more than 30 turnovers they converted into easy baskets.
“Our press got St. John sped up,” Stiles said.
St. John (3-2) was paced by Bailey Burns with 17 points in an inspired effort spiced by a half-dozen assists.
The Tigers played impressive basketball in the opening minutes as Bailey Burns and Tara Nelson connected for several lob passes and scores. Nelson added 13 points in a hustling effort.
But the Oilers converted several Tiger turnovers into easy transition baskets for a 23-13 lead after one quarter. The easy layups helped the Oilers make 22 of 40 first-half field goals for a 55-25 lead.
OILERS 87, TIGERS 41
SJ 13 12 7 9 — 41
CP 23 32 23 9 — 87
SJ—Tara Nelson 5-13 2-4 13; Bailey Burns 4-13 6-10 17; Kerisa Brown 1-4 0-0 2; Jackie Rios 1-4 0-0 2; Brooke Long; Paige Doran 1-1 1-1 3; Bree Meyer 2-2 0-0 2; Baley Doggett 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 14-38 9-15 41.
CP—Emily Ryan 11-14 3-3 26; Janae Ryan 5-13 3-4 14; Rylee Cunningham 0-2 0-2 0; Julie Donecker 2-6 1-2 5; Cassidy Crites 7-14 2-2 16; Avery Hurley 3-4 0-0 7; Kylee Kasselman 5-5 0-0 10; Rachel Lamatsch 1-1 0-0 3; Totals 35-61 13-19 87.
3-point goals—SJ 4-13 (Burns 3-7, Nelson 1-4, Brown 0-2), CP 4-11 (Lamatsch 1-1, E. Ryan 1-2, Hurley 1-2, J. Ryan 1-6).
CENTRAL PRAIRIE BOYS
Ness City 2-0 6-0
St. John 0-0 6-0
Otis-Bison 0-0 5-0
CPlains 0-0 5-1
Macksville 0-1 3-2
Ellinwood 0-0 3-2
LaCrosse 0-0 3-3
Victoria 0-0 0-5
Kinsley 0-1 0-6
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Central Plains 66, Larned 54
Ellinwood, Ellis, ppd.
Macksville 97, Stafford 43
Ness City 85, Kinsley 13
Otis-Bison 55, LaCrosse 52
St. John 85, Cunningham 11
CENTRAL PRAIRIE GIRLS
Kinsley 1-0 4-2
Macksville 1-0 3-2
CPlains 0-0 6-0
Otis-Bison 0-0 5-0
St. John 0-0 3-3
LaCrosse 0-0 2-4
Victoria 0-0 0-5
Ellinwood 0-0 0-5
Ness City 0-2 2-4
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Central Plains 62, Larned 31
Cunningham 45, St. John 29
Ellis, Ellinwood, ppd.
Kinsley 43, Ness City 33
Macksville 62, Stafford 42
Otis-Bison 52, LaCrosse 47
