BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune

CLAFLIN – The Central Plains boys basketball team blew open a tight ballgame with a 26-point third quarter to key a 66-54 non-league victory Friday night.
The two teams were locked in a 13-13 first quarter tie, followed by more of the same in the second quarter. The Oilers scored on a last-second out-of-bounds play by Brett Liebl for a 26-24 halftime lead.
The third quarter was a different story as the Oilers roared out of the dressing room, scoring 26 third-quarter points while holding Larned to 15, to take a commanding 13-point lead.
The fast-breaking Oilers frequently beat the Indians down the floor for easy baskets. Several timeouts by Larned coach Jerrod Smith failed to halt the surge.
Larned regained their composure in the fourth quarter and got the lead into single digits a couple of times but it was too-little, too-late.
“We’re a young team and we are going to have some lapses,” said Larned High Jerrod Smith. “But you just can’t let the other team beat you down the floor after you’ve scored and they did that a number of times. That’s not a time to celebrate your basket. You’ve got to hustle back. We’re learning – we’re getting better, though.”
Central Plains had a huge advantage at the free throw line, converting 23 of 28 attempts and the Indians were 5 of 7.
Smith added, “that just shows you who the most aggressive team was.”
Sophomore Brett Liebl led the Oilers with 20 points. Alex Hickel contributed 18 and Devin Ryan 13.
Larned was led by Jonathan Herter and Mason Schartz with 13 apiece and Dalton Bright added 12.
Central Plains (5-1) plays at Salina Sacred Heart Tuesday. Larned (2-4) plays at home Jan. 3 against Kingman.

LHS 13 11 15 15 – 54
CP 13 13 26 14 – 66
LHS—Herter 13, Schartz 13, Bright 12, Perez 5, Massey 4, Harmon 3, Sanger 2, Phillips 2.
CP—Liebl 20, hickel 18, Devin Ryan 12, Miller 9, Schlochtermeier 4, Lewis 2.

CENTRAL KANSAS LEAGUE BOYS
Hesston 0-0 5-1
Hillsboro 0-0 4-1
Haven 0-0 4-2
SValley 0-0 3-2
Halstead 0-0 3-2
Pratt 0-0 3-2
Nickerson 0-0 2-2
Kingman 0-0 2-4
Larned 0-0 2-4
Hoisington 0-0 1-4
Lyons 0-0 0-6
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Pratt 51, Hoisington 40
SE Saline 57, Hillsboro 53
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Central Plains 66, Larned 54
Haven 51, Lyons 35
Hesston 60, Kingman 31
Smoky Valley 44, Halstead 28

HESSTON (5-1)—W SHeart 66-36; (W GPlain 43-42; W Rose Hill 54-41; W Chanute 55-27); W Smoky Valley 52-61; W Kingman 60-31; 1-3, at *Pratt; 1-6, *Lyons; 1-10, *Kingman; 1-13, *Halstead; 1-17-21, Hillsboro Tournament; 1-31, *at Haven; 2-3, *Smoky Valley; 2-7, at *Nickerson; 2-10, at *Larned; 2-14, *Hoisington; 2-17, at *Hillsboro; 2-21, at Sterling

HILLSBORO (5-1)—W Sterling 66-53; Moundridge (W Lyons 68-31; W Inman 44-37; W Moundridge 47-44); L SE Saline 53-57; W Marion 61-37; 1-3 *Nickerson; 1-6 *Larned; 1-10 at *Hoisington; 1-13 at *Haven; 1-17-21 (Trojan Classic); 1-31, at Council Grove; 2-3, at *Pratt; 2-7 *Lyons; 2-10 *Kingman; 2-14, at *Halstead; 2-17 *Hesston; 2-21 at *Smoky Valley

HALSTEAD (5-2)—L Remington 32-36; (W Solomon 54-40; W Bennington 64-46; W Minneapolis 56-34); W Sedgwick 47-44; L Smoky Valley 28-44; W Mulvane 67-63; 1-6 at *Smoky Valley’; 1-10 *Pratt; 1-13, at *Hesston; 1-16 21, Halstead Rupp Tournament; 1-31 at *Lyons; 2-3, *Larned; 2-7 * Kingman; 2-10 at *Hoisington; 2-14 * Hillsboro; 2-17 Nickerson; 2-21 *Haven

HAVEN (3-2)—W Hutchinson Trinity 56-51; Wellington (W Conway Springs 49-52; W Wellington 51-47; L Sterling 52-55); W Lyons 51-35; 1-3, *Smoky Valley; 1-6, *Nickerson; 1-10, at *Larned; 1-13, *Hillsboro; 1-16 21 Halstead Rupp Tournament); 1-27 at Sedgwick; 1-31, Hesston; 2-3, at Ellinwood; 2-7, *Pratt; 2-10, at *Lyons; 2-14, at *Kingman; 2-17, *at Hoisington; 2-21, Halstead

SMOKY VALLEY (3-2)—L Abilene 36-47; L SE Saline 54-58; W Concordia 48-40; W Hesston 61-52; W Halstead 44-28; 1-3 at *Haven; 1-6, *Halstead; 1-10, at *Nickerson; 1-13, at *Kingman; 1-16-20, Sterling Tournament; 1-24, Hutchinson Trinity; 1-27, at Clay Center; 1-31, *Hoisington; 2-3, at *Hesston; 2-10, *Pratt; 2-14, *Lyons; 2-17, at *Larned; 2-21, *Hillsboro

PRATT (3-2)—W Larned 65-40; L Hays 71-79; L Andale 40-62; W Kingman 61-34; W Hoisington 51-40; 1-3 *Hesston; 1-6 Labette County; 1-10 at *Halstead; 1-13 *Larned; 1-17-21, St. John Mid-Winter Classic; 1-27 Macksville; 1-31 at *Kingman; 2-3, *Hillsboro; 2-7, at *Haven; 2-10, at *Smoky Valley; 2-14, *Nickerson; 2-17, at *Lyons; 2-21, at *Hoisington

NICKERSON (3-2)—Russell (Plainville 63-58; W Ell-Saline 65-36; L Central Plains 40-52); L Sterling 60-71; W Sedgwick 61-46; 1-3, at *Hillsboro; 1-6, at *Haven; 1-10, *Smoky Valley; 1-13, *Lyons; 1-17-21 St. John Mid-Winter Classic; 1-31, *Larned; 2-3, *Hoisington; 2-7, *Hesston; 2-10, Dodge City; 2-14, at *Pratt; 2-17, at *Halstead; 2-21, *Kingman; 2-23 Cheney

KINGMAN (2-4)—L Clearwater 23-52; Kingman Tournament (W Sunrise 69-38; L Sterling 48-61; W Wellington 48-41); L Pratt 34-61; W Hessotn 31-60; 1-3 *at Larned; 1-6 *Hoisington; 1-10 at *Hesston; 1-13, at Skomy Valley; 1-18-20 Chaparral Tournament; 1-31, *Pratt; 2-3, *Lyons; 2-7, at Halstead; 2-10, at *Hillsboro; 2-14, *Haven; 2-17, Sterling; 2-21, at *Nickerson

LARNED (2-4)—L Pratt 40-65; Keady Classic (L Hoisington 36-43; L Ellinwood 46-56; W Kinsley 68-33); W Lyons 59-43; L Central Plains 54-66; 1-3, *Kingman; 1-6, at Hillsboro; 1-10, *Haven; 1-13, at *Pratt; 1-16-21, at St. John Mid-Winter Classic; 1-31, at *Nickerson; 2-3, at *Halstead; 2-7, *Hoisington; 2-10, *Hesston; 2-14, at Lakin; 2-17, *Smoky Valley; 2-21, at *Lyons

HOISINGTON (1-4)—L Central Plains 38-44; Keady Classic (W Larned 43-36; L Spearville 24-50; L Macksville 46-53); L Pratt 40-51; 1-3, *at Lyons; 1-6, *at Kingman; 1-10, *Hillsboro; 1-16-21, Cardinal Winter Jam; 1-31, *at Smoky Valley; 2-3, *at Nickerson; 2-7, at *Larned; 2-10, *Halstead; 2-14, at *Hesston; 2-17, *Haven; 2-21, *Pratt

LYONS (0-6)—L Ellsworth 37-49; Moundridge (L Hillsboro 31-69; L Moundridge 27-56; L Inman 25-59); L Larned 43-59; L Haven 35-51; 1-3, *Hoisington; 1-6, at *Hesston; 1-13, at Nickerson; 1-16-20, at Sterling Tournament; 1-27, Ellinwood; 1-31, *Halstead; 2-3, *at Kingman; 2-7, at *Hillsboro; 2-10, *Haven; 2-14, at *Smoky Valley; 2-17, *Pratt; 2-21, *Larned

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

CPL BOYS
NESS CITY (2-0, 7-0)—W *Macksville 70-43; Trego Tournament (W No. Valley 69-45; W LaCrosse 82-41; W Oakley 69-21); W Hodgeman Co. 64-36; W *Kinsley 85-13; W Ellis 60-31; 1-6, *at St. John; 1-10, Spearville; 1-13, at Trego; 1-16-21, at St. John MidWinter Classic; 1-31, at Hill City; 2-3, *LaCrosse; 2-7, *Ellinwood; 2-10, at *Otis-Bison; 2-14, *Central Plains; 2-17, *Victoria; 2-21, at Dighton

ST. JOHN (0-0, 6-0)—W Skyline 82-25; W Keady Classic (W Kinsley 103-6; W Macksville 65-49; W Spearville 47-36); W Central Plains 62-31; W Cunningham 85-11; 1-3, *Kinsley; 1-6, *Ness City; 1-10, at *Ellinwood; 1-17-21, at St. John MidWinter Classic; 1-31, Norwich; W; 2-3, *Central Plains; 2-7, at *LaCrosse; 2-10, at *Victoria; 2-14, at South Central; 2-17, *Macksville; 2-21, at *Otis-Bison; 2-23, at Cimarron

OTIS-BISON (0-0, 5-0)—W Wilson 58-29; Fairfield Classic (W Stafford 70-21; W Flinthills 60-31; W Chase 52-19); LaCrosse 55-52; 1-3, Stafford; 1-6, at *Victoria; 1-10, *Kinsley; 1-13, at *LaCrosse; 1-16-21, at Cardinal Winter Jam; 1-24, Dighton; 1-27, at Sylvan Grove; 1-31, at *Central Plains; 2-3, Meade; 2-10, *Ness City; 2-14, at *Mackville; 2-17, *Ellinwood; 2-21, *St. John

CPLAINS (0-0, 5-2)—W Hoisington 44-38; Russell Tournament (W Lincoln 67-29; W Ellsworth 64-47; W Nickerson 52-40); L St. John 31-62; W Larned 66-54; L Sacred Heart 37-51; 1-6, *Macksville; 1-13, at *Victoria; 1-17-21, at St. John MidWinter Classic; 1-31, *Otis-Bison; 2-3, *St. John; 2-4, at Concordia; 2-7, Plainville; 2-10, *LaCrosse; 2-14, at *Ness City; 2-17, *Kinsley; 2-21, at *Ellinwood

ELLINWOOD (0-0, 3-2)—W Russell 63-47; Keady Classic (L Spearville 38-48; W Larned 56-46; L Kiowa Co. 54-61); W Ell-Saline 58-56; 1-10, at Ellis; 1-13, *St. John; 1-13, at *Macksville; 1-16-21, at Cardinal WinterJam; 1-24, *LaCrosse; 1-27, at Lyons; 1-31, *Victoria; 2-3, Haven; 2-7, at *Ness City; 2-10, *Kinsley; 2-14, at Plainville; 2-17, at *Otis-Bison; 2-23, *Central Plains

LACROSSE (0-0, 3-3)—L Kiowa Co. 43-68; Trego Tournament (W Trego 45-37; L Ness City 41-82; W Hodgeman Co. 39-29); W Dighton; L Otis-Bison 52-55; 1-3, Western Plains; 1-10, Macksville; 1-13, *Otis-Bison; 1-16-21, at Cardinal WinterJam; 1-24, *Ellinwood; 1-27, *Victoria; 1-31, at *Macksville; 2-3, at *Ness City; 2-7, *St. John; 2-10, at *Central Plains; 2-14, Stockton; 2-21, *Kinsley

VICTORIA (0-0, 0-5)—L Hoxie 32-64; Trego Tournament (L Oakley 39-50; L Stockton 26-65; L Trego 29-45) L TMP 48-90; 1-3, at Plainville; 1-6, *Otis-Bison; 1-10, at Stockton; 1-13, *Central Plains; 1-16-21, at Cardinal WinterJam; 1-24, at Ellis; 1-27, *LaCrosse; 1-31, *Ellinwood; 2-3, *Macksville; 2-10, *St. John; 2-14, *Kinsley; 2-17, at *Ness City; 2-21, Osborne

MACKSVILLE (0-1, 4-2)—L *Ness City 43-70; Keady Classic (W Kiowa Co. 71-60; L St. John 49-65; W Hoisington 53-46); W Stafford 97-43; W Cunningham 78-29; 1-6, at *Central Plains; 1-10, at *LaCrosse; 1-13, *Ellinwood; 1-17-21, at St. John MidWinter Classic; 1-27, Pratt; 1-31, *LaCrosse; 2-3, *Victoria; 2-7, at *Kinsley; 2-10, Fowler; 2-14, *Otis-Bison; 2-17, at *St. John; 2-21, at Hodgeman County

KINSLEY (0-1 0-6)—L Sublette 43-74; Keady Classic (L St. John 6-103; L Kiowa Co. 47-76; L Larned 33-68) L Skyline 35-67; L Ness City 13-85; 1-3, at *St. John; 1-6, at Cunningham; 1-10, at *Otis-Bison; 1-13, at Kiowa County; 1-23-28, at 54 Classic; 1-31, South Central; 2-3, Spearville; 2-7, *Macksville; 2-10, at *Ellinwood; 2-14, *Victoria; 2-17, at *Central Plains; 2-21, at *LaCrosse