MANHATTAN – Four-time defending 2A state basketball champion Central Plains delivered a defensive clinic for a dominating 55-30 first-round victory Wednesday over the Inman girls.
All-stater Emily Ryan led the Oilers with 29 points, three assists and three steals. Avery Hurley chipped in 11 points. The Oilers (24-0) have won 82 consecutive games and is 127-1 over the past five seasons.
Inman shot 25 percent and was pressured into 25 turnovers that created several fast-break opportunities for the Oilers.
The Oilers trailed 7-5 when they took charge with a decisive 12-0 scoring run. Ryan scored 10 points and Hurley added a basket as the Oilers converted eight points off turnovers for a 17-7 lead.
“We defended really well. We showed off a halfcourt trap and that gave us an advantage,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. “Our defense is performing at a high level.”
Ryan scored all nine second-quarter points with a trio of 3-pointers for a 26-12 halftime lead. Ryan converted 11 of 22 field goals. The other Oilers made 9 of 25 shots, 36 percent in the spacious Bramlage Coliseum. The Oilers committed 18 turnovers.
“We haven’t played clean offensively,” Stiles said. “We’ll settle down Friday. We had players who were playing for the first time in a state environment. We missed some shots we normally make. Hopefully, those shots will drop the next we play.”
Inman (14-9) was led by Olivia Clark with 10 points.
The Oilers play at 3 p.m. Friday against Hill City (21-3), a 50-49 overtime winner over Pittsburg Colgan.

Inman 9 3 8 10 – 30
C Plains 17 9 15 14 – 55
INMAN (14-9)—Clark 4-9 2-2 10, Michael 1-6 4-4 6, Maurer 1-6 2-4 4, DeWitt 2-4 0-1 4, Harman 0-1 2-2 2, Regehrr
CENTRAL PLAINS (24-0)—Emily Ryan 11-22 5-6 29, Avery Hurley 4-7 2-2 11, Jeffrey 2-2 0-0 5, Rugan 2-5 1-2 5, Lamatsch 1-7 0-0 3, Donecker 0-3 0-0 0, Stratmann 2 0-0 4, Totals 20-47 10-12 55.
3-point—I 0-11 (Herren 0-1, DeWitt 0-1, Raney 0-1, Ediger 0-2, Clark 0-2, Maurer 0-4); CP 5-15 (Ryan 2-4, Jeffrey 1-1, Hurley 1-2, Lamatsch 1-5, Rugan 0-3). Rebounds—I 28 (Clark 6), CP 32 (Donecker 8). Assists—I 6 (DeWitt 2), CP 7 (Ryan 3, Donecker 3). Steals—I 9 (Raney 3), CP 12 (Ryan 3).

2A STATE, MANHATTAN
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS

3 p.m.—Central Plains (24-0) vs. Hill City (21-3)

6:30 p.m.—Olpe (23-0) vs. Valley Hts. (20-5)

WEDNESDAY

Central Plains 55, Inman 30
Hill City 50, Pittsburg Colgan 49 (OT)
Olpe 56, Spearville 32

Valley Hts. 50, West Elk 33