CLAFLIN — The Central Plains Oilers proved the theory if you want to be the champs, beat the champions.
The No. 1 ranked Oilers downed defending 2A state champion Salina Sacred Heart 53-45 in a gritty, hard-fought basketball game. Sacred Heart beat St. John 59-51 for last year’s 2A state title. They beat the unbeaten Oilers 62-52 in the 2016 2A state semifinals.
“We accomplished this with defense and rebounding because we didn’t shoot it great,” said Central Plains coach Brett Rolfs.
Oiler point guard Devin Ryan led the sterling defensive effort by holding Knight standout guard Caleb Jordan to two points and 1 of 12 shooting.
“He’s a great 3-point shooter, so I wanted to get up tight and make him put the ball on the floor,” Ryan said. “I figured if he dribbled past me, my teammates would give me help defense.”
Rolfs said Ryan anticipated Jordan’s every move before Ryan departed with his fifth foul to a roaring ovation.
“Devin is one of those special players who’s a step ahead,” Rolfs said. “He relies on his instincts and anticipation.”
Central Plains (7-0) relied on Alex Barton inside with four defensive blocks and 15 points. Alex Hickel hustled inside for 14 points. They combined for 13 third-quarter points for a 15-4 edge in the quarter for a 38-26 lead.
The key swing was Barton’s 3-point play followed by Devin Ryan’s two free throws on a technical foul against Knight Cole Elmore to cap a 11-0 scoring run to end the quarter.
“We played better defense that second half and we started getting the ball inside,” Barton said.
Rolfs said the Oilers got back to basic clearing a side and working the basketball to Barton and Hickel.
“We played to our strengths that second half,” Rolfs said. “We play our best when we work inside, then out. We’d love to shoot better free throws next time.”
The Oilers’ strategy of getting to the foul line nearly backfired when they converted 13 of 26 free throws in the final period. Liebl rescued the Oilers with a clutch 3-point play for a 41-35 lead.
No. 4 ranked 2A Sacred Heart (5-2) was paced by Charlie Skidmore with 18 points and four 3-pointers. Grant Herrenbruck added 13 points.

SH 8 14 4 19 – 45
CP 10 13 15 15 – 53
SH—Caleb Jordan 1-12 0-0 2, Josh Jordan 1-3 0-2 3, Grant Herrenbruck 5-11 2-2 13 Elmore 0-3 0-0 0, Leners 3-6 0-0 6, Skidmore 6-11 2-2 18, Palen 1-4 1-2 3, Totals 17-50 5-8 45.
CP—Hickel 7-15 0-6 14, Oeser 0-0 1-4 1, Menges 2-6 3-6 7, Devin Ryan 1-4 4-4 7, Barton 5-8 5-7 15, Liebl 3-8 3-4 9, Totals 18-41 16-31 53.
3-pointers—SH 6-16 (Skidmore 4-7, G. Herrenbruck 1-3, J. Jordan 1-2, C. Jordan 0-4), CP 1-10 (Ryan 1-4, Hickel 0-2, Menges 0-4, Liebl 0-1)

CENTRAL PLAINS GIRLS 80,
SACRED HEART 21
All-stater Emily Ryan displayed her all-around skill with 31 points, nine steals, 10 assists and six rebounds as the No. 1 ranked Oilers rolled past Sacred Heart. Ryan set the tone with her defense on the Oilers’ fullcourt pressure.
Ryan received plenty of offensive help. Delaney Rugan (15), Avery Hurley (12) and Rachel Lamatsch (10) scored in double figures.
“Delaney Rugan is really athletic and she’s played a fine basketball game,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. “When we get three other players in double figure scoring, that helps Emily Ryan play her game more freely.”
The Oilers forced 17 first-half turnovers to roll to a 34-8 first-quarter lead and 49-16 at halftime. The Oilers played even better the second half with a dominating 27-0 third quarter.
“We really played good defense that first quarter,” Stiles said. “We like to get after teams defensively.”

SH 8 8 0 5 – 21
CP 34 15 27 4 – 80
SH—Smith 0-0 1-2 1, Cochran 2-9 0-0 4, Everett 0-0 2-4 2, Rodriguez 1-4 0-0 2, Ivey 3-7 0-0 6, Decker 0-3 0-0 0, Slagle 0-3 1-6 1, Totals 8-31 4-12 21
CP—Emily Ryan 13-22 2-2 31, Lamatsch 4-6 0-0 10, Rugan 7-13 0-0 15, Donecker 2-4 2-2 6, Rylee Cunningham 0-0 2-2 2, Stratmann 1-2 0-0 0, Potter 0-1 0-0 0, Crites 1-1 0-0 2, Avery Hurley 5-11 1-1 12, Totals 33-60 7-7 80.