CENTRAL PLAINS 77,
LAWRENCE SEABURY 56
Seabury 9 14 13 20 — 56
CP 19 24 19 15 — 77
Seabury—Mikey Wycoff 7-17 4-5 21, Bansi King 4-8 0-0 11; Zach McDermott 3-8 1-6 7; Thomas diZerega 2-4 0-0 7; Tom Silvestri 1-1 0-2 3; Thomas Uhler 1-4 2-4 4; Austin Gaumer 0-1 0-0 0; Maxwell Easter 1-2 0-0 0; Carter Claxton 0-0 0-2 0; Totals 20-46 7-18 56.
Central Plains—Michael Ryan 5-6 13-15 24; Jacob Warnken 5-6 8-10 20; Braeden Crites 4-5 4-4 12; Alex Barton 4-4 4-5 12; Devin Ryan 1-5 2-2 4; Brady Rugan 0-1 1-2 1; Bryce Miller 1-1 0-0 2; Trustin Kreft 1-2 0-0 2; Alex Hickel 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 21-31 32-38 77.
3-point—LS 9-24 (King 3-7, Wycoff 3-8, Silvestri 1-1, Dominguez 1-1, McDermott 0-3, Easter 1-2, Uhler 0-1, Gaumer 0-1); CP 3-9 (Warnken 2-3, M. Ryan 1-2, D. Ryan 0-4). Rebounds—LS 20 (Uhler 6), CP 37 (Crites 5). Technicals—Seabury 2.
CLASS 2A STATE
At Manhattan, Bramlage Coliseum
Thursday
Hill City 74, Sedan 69
Holton-Jackson Heights 57, Elbing-Berean Academy 43
Central Plains 77, Lawrence Seabury Academy 56
Salina Sacred Heart (23-0) vs. Montezuma-South Gray (20-3)
Friday’s semifinals
3 p.m.—Hill City (18-6) vs. Jackson Heights (22-2)
8:15 p.m.—Central Plains (24-0) vs. Salina Sacred Heart
Saturday’s games
2 p.m—Third place
6:15 p.m.—Championship
MANHATTAN -- The No. 1 ranked Central Plains Oilers made a strong first impression in the Class 2A boys state basketball tournament.
The Oilers dominated Lawrence Seabury Academy 77-56 Thursday keyed by a high-powered offense and efficient 82 percent free throw shooting.
The Oilers (24-0) play Salina Sacred Heart (24-0) in Friday’s 8:15 p.m. Class 2A semifinals at Bramlage Coliseum. The Oiler girls will play the 3 p.m. semifinal against Hill City.
The Oilers outscored the Seahawks 32-7 from the free throw line, a 25-point advantage. Central Plains spread the Seahawks’ defense and effectively drove the ball to the basket.
Oiler standout Michael Ryan led the attack with 24 points and 13 of 15 free throws. The Oilers converted 20 of 22 first-half free throws to lead 43-23. Central Plains made 10 of 15 field goals to shoot 67 percent the first half.
Jacob Warnken knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first period and finished with 20 points and 8 of 10 free throws. Braeden Crites and Alex Barton each scored 12 points. The Oilers shot 67 percent on 21 of 31 field goals.
The Seahawks fouled 26 times and never adjusted despite how the game was being officiated. The Seahawks drew two bench technicals that gave the Oilers four free throws and two possessions.
Seabury’s Mikey Wycoff matched his season average with 21 points and Bansi King added 11 points. But Zach McDermott scored seven points, 11 below his average. By halftime, McDermott had drawn four fouls and Wycoff and King each had three fouls. The Seahawks made 9 of 24 3-pointers to outscore the Oilers 27-9 from long range.
Central Plains lost the past two years in post-season to the St. John Tigers, 49-44 in last year’s Class 2A state final. The Oilers only other loss the past two years other than St. John was to Class 6A Derby at the Dodge City Tournament of Champions.
