By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
MANHATTAN -- Central Plains' three-year reign over the Class 2A girls state basketball tournament was in serious jeopardy in Friday's semifinals.
Hill City drained a Class 2A state record 12 3-pointers to lead the Oilers 43-40 with three minutes left.
The No. 1 ranked Oilers responded like reigning state champions with a closing 13-4 run for a spine-tingling 53-47 Class 2A semifinal victory. The Oilers (25-0) will seek their third consecutive title in Saturday's Class 2A state championship game against Olpe (25-0) at Bramlage Coliseum.
Central Plains featured excellent teamwork as quality passes led to four consecutive baskets.
Kylee Kasselman fed Taylor Rolfs for a tying basket. Janae Ryan's pass from the 3-point stripe found Kasselman for a 3-point play and a 46-43 lead. Reagan Phelan's full-court pass led to Rolfs' layup for a 48-45 lead. Rolfs' baseline pass set up Kasselman's clinching basket for a 50-45 lead.
Cassidy Crites sank two free throws and Ryan made one free throw for the final points. The Oilers made 8 of 11 field goals in the fourth quarter.
"These girls refuse to lose," said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. "These girls know how to play winning basketball. That was as tough a game as we've had the past three years. But I wasn't nervous because I know what our girls can do."
Phelan contributed 15 points, five steals and four assists. Rolfs scored 16 points on a tough shooting afternoon. Kasselman added 11 points. The Oilers outscored the Ringnecks 7-1 on free throws.
Coach Stiles said he has never played a team that ever shot that many 3-pointers. The Oilers' defense superbly defended Hill City's inside game.
"I'm surprised Hill City didn't drive harder to the basket, but they spread their offense out with four really good shooters," Stiles said. "They make you guard all over the court. We kept trying to guard them."
The Ringnecks converted 12 of 32 3-pointers and made 5 of 20 2-point attempts. Lexie McDowell scored 16 points with a trio of 3-pointers. Amanda Conway had 14 points and four 3-pointers.
The Oilers defended the Ringnecks from 2-3 and 3-2 zone defenses that contested the outside shooters. But the Ringnecks made enough outside shots to scare the Oilers.
Stiles said he was hesitant to pressure the Ringnecks to speed the tempo because of possible foul trouble if the game was tightly officiated. Neither happened.
The Oilers led 20-17 at halftime as both teams shot poorly. Central Plains managed 7 of 26 field goals and missed several pin-point shots inside. The Ringnecks managed 6 of 25 shooting, 5 of 17 from 3-point range.
"I told the girls at halftime that we would not win that game shooting that percentage in the second half," Stiles said.
CENTRAL PLAINS 53, HILL CITY 47
Class 2A semifinal
Hill City 6 11 17 13 -- 47
Central Plains 8 12 11 22 -- 52
HC--Lexie McDowell 6-15 1-1 16; Amanda Conway 5-12 0-0 14; Adrianna Nickelson 3-9 0-0 8; Lauren Jones 2-4 0-0 6; Conner Keith 1-10 0-0 3; Carrie Kennedy 0-1 0-0 0; Kylie Simon 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 17-52 1-1 47
CP--Taylor Rolfs 6-19 2-2 16; Reagan Phelan 6-10 0-1 15; Kylee Kasselman 5-7 1-1 11; Cassidy Crites 2-4 3-4 7; Janae Ryan 1-8 1-2 4; Kendi Maxwell 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 20-49 7-10 53.
3-pointers--HC 12-32 (Conway 4-8, McDowell 3-8, Jones 2-3, Nickelson 2-5, Keith 1-8), CP 6-21 (Phelan 3-5, Rolfs 2-10, Ryan 1-5, Crites 0-1). Rebounds--HC 28 (Keith 6), CP 35 (Ryan 9). Assists--HC 10 (Keith 5), CP 11 (Phelan 4). Steals--HC 8 (Conway 3), CP 11 (Phelan 5).
