MANHATTAN — The Emily Ryan show at Bramlage Coliseum opened to rave reviews. It’s predicted to be the continuation of a three-year title run at Class 2A state basketball history for Central Plains High School.
Ryan wrote her first chapter with a memorable performance – a 20-point first half and 26-point debut in the Oilers’ dominating 60-30 victory Thursday over Cottonwood Falls-Chase County.
The humble Ryan admitted she felt some nerves during her first game at Bramlage Coliseum on the Kansas State University campus.
“There were definitely a lot of nerves,” Emily Ryan said. “The seniors have so much experience, and that calms the whole team. They said ‘play your own game.’
Ryan quickly calmed everyone with five first-quarter steals that led to 10 points off turnovers. The Oilers missed their five shots until Ryan converted those steals into transition scores.
“She does that every day in practice,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. “She creates havoc for our second-team offense. She gets her hands on a lot of passes. She plays well beyond her years of experience.”
Emily Ryan, who had seven steals, said the Oilers’ gain a spark from their defense.
“It helped our team get energy,” she said. “We’re not worried about our offense,” she said. “We got stops and played defense. We had a hand up and try to get a lot of deflections. The deflections lead to steals. That seemed to shake them up.”
Emily Ryan scored 13 first-quarter points and Janae Ryan knocked down a 3-pointer for a 16-4 lead. The Ryans worked together flawlessly by scoring the Oilers’ first 29 points for a 29-7 lead.
“We always know each other is on the court,” Emily Ryan said. “It’s pretty easy to find her.”
Kylee Kasselman scored two second-quarter baskets for a 35-13 halftime lead. The Oilers converted 13 of 21 field goals for 62 percent shooting.
Janae Ryan added 13 points and Julie Donecker had seven points.
Emily Ryan used her length to hold Chase County’s leading scorer Sammy Jo Peterson to two points on one of 11 shooting. The Oilers started half-court zone, but switched to man-to-man halfway through the first period.
“Emily can guard people. Their guard Peterson is a really good ballhandler and I didn’t want us to get in foul trouble,” Stiles said. “We started half-court defense. When we want man-to-man, it turned out to be a good decision.”
Chase County (15-9) was led by Daryn Crawford with eight points.
The Oilers (24-0) extend their winning streak to 56 games heading to Friday’s 3 p.m. semifinal against Valley Falls, a 31-26 winner over Berean Academy. The three-time defending state champions are 101-1 over the past four seasons.
“Anytime you get chance to rest players at state, that’s valuable,” Stiles said.
Chase County 4 9 7 10 – 30
Central Plains 16 19 17 9 – 60
CHASE COUNTY—Crawford 4-6 0-0 8; Peterson 1-11 0-0 3; Scoville 1-4 0-0 2; Clinton 1-4 0-0 3; Burkhart 1-1 0-0 2; Eidman 2-7 2-2 6; Soyez 0-3 0-0 0; Swift 1-4 1-3 3; Higgs 0-1 0-0 0; Turner 0-1 0-0 0; Vandegrift 1-1 0-0 2; Schrater 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 12-44 3-4 30.
CENTRAL PLAINS—Emily Ryan 11-15 4-5 26; Janae Ryan 4-11 2-2 13; Julie Donecker 3-4 0-0 6; Cassidy Crites 2-5 0-0 5; Avery Hurley 1-2 0-0 3; Kylee Kasselman 2-4 0-0 4; Kirsten Gunder 1-2 0-0 2; Chelsey Bieberle 0-1 0-0 0; Rachel Lamaatsch 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 24-45 6-7 60.
3-point goals—CC 3-14 (Vandegrift 1-1, Peterson 1-6, Clinton 1-2, Eidman 0-1, Scoville 0-1, Soyez 0-3), CP 6-17 (J. Ryan 3-8, Donecker 1-1, Crites 1-2, Hurley 1-2, E. Ryan 0-1, Lamatsch 0-1, Bieberle 0-1, Gunder 0-1). Rebounds—CC 26 (Crawford 7), CP 26 (J. Ryan 5). Assists—CC 6 (Soyez 4), CP 13 (E. Ryan 4). Steals—CC 8 (Swift 3), CP 11 (E. Ryan 7). TO—CC 15, CP 14.
