ST. JOHN – Defending Class 2A state champion and No. 1 ranked St. John rolled past No. 2 ranked Central Plains 52-33 in a Central Prairie League basketball victory.
The Tigers (14-0 4-0 CPL) were led by all-stater Dean Wade with 16 points, three blocks and three steals. Jacob Milton and Cole Kinnamon each added 12 points.
The Tigers outscored the Oilers 14-3 in the second period to lead 24-13. The Oilers shot 32 percent and the 6-foot-9 Wade disrupted any inside offense.
Layne Bieberle scored 12 points and Michael Ryan added 10 points for the Oilers.
 “There were two great teams before a packed house,” said St. John coach Clint Kinnamon. “We played darn hard and really competed. We did a lot better job closing the game out tonight than what we did at their place. Central Plains competes to the last whistle.”
Central Plains (11-3, 3-1 CPL) was swept in the two-game series against the Tigers. The Oilers lost four times to the Tigers last year. Central Plains coach coach Brett Rolfs was ejected in the fourth quarter after the Oilers drew two bench technicals.
Central Plains 10 3 13 7 – 33
St. John 11 13 14 14 – 52
Central Plains—Bieberle 4-14 1-2 12, Michael Ryan 4-9 0-0 10, Crites 4-10 0-0 8, Ingham 1-6 1-4 3; Lamatsch 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 13-40 2-8 33.
St. John—Wade 4-8 7-8 16, Kinnamon 3-6 5-5 12, Gero Calleros 3-4 0-1 6, Jorge Calleros 1-3 3-7 6, Milton 6-8 0-0 12; Valenzeula 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 16-29 15-21 52.
CENTRAL PLAINS 49, ST. JOHN 24
ST. JOHN – The No. 1 ranked Central Plains girls outscored St. John 34-7 after halftime to roll to a 49-24 Central Prairie League basketball game.
Central Plains (14-0, 4-0 CPL) was paced by Trevor Rolfs with 19 points and Janae Ryan with 11 points. The Oilers scored 16 straight points in a 21-2 third-quarter run behind fullcourt pressure.
St. John (9-5, 2-2 CPL) was led by Teresa Christie and Bella Haskins with six points.
St. John 7 10 2 5 – 24
Central Plains 5 10 21 13 – 49
Central Plains – Rolfs 8-14 3-3 19; Phelan 4-6 0-0 9; Crites 1-5 1-2 3; Ryan 4-8 0-0 11; Maxwell 2-6 0-0 5; Kasselman 1-2 0-1 2; Stueder 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 20-42 4-6 49.
St. John – Teresa Christie 3-13 0-0 6; Tara Christie 2-6 0-0 5; Fisher 1-5 0-0 3; Burns 2-4 0-2 4; Hanson 0-3 0-0 0; Haskins 3-4 0-0 6; Totals 11-35 0-2 24