cBY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
CLAFLIN — Brynna Hammeke believes Central Plains Oiler Magic is alive and well.
Hammeke delivered a career-best performance with 30 points and six steals to ignite a 52-31 quarterfinal victory over St. Paul in Monday's 1A Division 2 state quarterfinal. The Oiler girls have swept a state record 20 consecutive state tournament games and a state-record 45 consecutive postseason games.
The Oilers (20-3) play in the Division 2 semifinals Rexford-Golden Plains (23-0) at 3 p.m. Thursday at Barton Community College. Central Plains has swept six consecutive state basketball championships. They were prevented from a seventh consecutive state title when Kansas State High School Activities directors voted to cancel postseason play last year due to liability concerns regarding the coronavirus.
Hammeke was spectacular with 17 points and four first-half steals. The Oilers converted five first-quarter turnovers into nine points and a 12-4 lead. Hammeke and Kassidy Nixon combined for 21 of the Oilers' first 24 points. Hammeke hooked up with Jennah Jeffrey for the game's prettiest play, a give-and-go that Jeffrey converted for a 38-19 lead after three quarters.
"Shooting-wise, I haven't ever had that type of a game," Hammeke said. "Team-wise, that was one of our best basketball games. We were happy to have the home-court advantage and have our fans here. We were really nervous. But you've got to come out strong because it's survive-and-advance time. You've got to come out ready."
Hammeke and Nixon keyed the Oilers' aggressive zone defense by stopping drives and tipping and stealing passes to disrupt the Indians' first-half offense.
"We've worked together since we were young," Hammeke said. "Kassidy and I read each other really well defensively. It's always good to have each other. We always know where each other is."
Central Plains coach Pat Stiles (221-7) has guided the Oilers to six state championships and a 47-1 postseason record in nine seasons.
The Indians converted six consecutive 3-pointers against Waverly and showed strong offensive potential. But the Oilers played an effective zone defense without full-court defense.
"With their height, I wasn't sure we could match up, so we played zone," Stiles said. "The girls worked really hard at it. All year, Kassidy and Brynna show their quickness and they get deflections. We played extremely good defense that first half. We showed good patience on offense. We moved the basketball side-to-side and got good quality shots."
St. Paul (15-4) rallied briefly with a 9-5 scoring run keyed by Josey Harris' 16-point second half. Stiles said the Indians' Harris and Emerald Struthers had scoring potential. But the Oilers' shifting zone defense held Struthers to four points.
Central Plains converted 18 of 30 field goals for 60 percent shooting with constant ball movement and player rotation. The Oilers commtted 16 turnovers.
St. Paul 4 4 11 13 — 32
Central Plains 12 12 14 13 — 51
ST. PAUL (15-4)—Harris 5-12 4-4 16, Elise Doherty 2-7 2-2 6, Bradshaw 2-2 0-0 4, Struthers 2-8 0-0 4, Seme 0-2 2-2 2, Chambers 0-0 0-1 0, Albertini 0-4 0-0 0, Totals 11-35 8-9 32
CENTRAL PLAINS (20-3)—Hammeke 9-12 9-10 30, Jennah Jeffrey 4-7 1-2 10, Nixon 4-6 0-1 8, Lexi Oeser 12 0-0 3, Metro 0-1 0-0 0, Zink 0-1 0-0 0, Steiner 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 18-30 10-13 51
3-pointers—SP 2-14 (Harris 2-7, Seme 0-1, Albertini 0-2, Struthers 0-2, Elise Doherty 0-4), CP 5-12 (Hammeke 3-5, Lexi Oeser 1-1, Jeffrey 1-2, Steiner 0-1, Short 0-1, Nixon 0-2)
OILER ALL-TIME STATE RECORDS
45 consecutive postseason wins
20 consecutive state tournament wins
Pat Stiles 221-7, 47-1 postseason (20-3, 1A-Div. 2 state semifinal; 25-0, 1A state Final Four; 27-0, 1A state champion; 26-0, 2A state champion; 26-0; 26-0, 2A state champion; 25-1, 2A state champion; 26-0, 2A state champion; 20-3, substate runner-up)
1A DIV. 2 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
THURSDAY GREAT BEND
3 p.m.—Central Plains 20-3 vs. Golden Plains 23-0
7 p.m.—Beloit St. John's 18-1 vs. Cunningham 21-2
1A DIV. 2 QUARTERFINALS
Golden Plains 57, Dighton 45
Central Plains 51, St. Paul 32
Cunningham 56, Ashland 28
Beloit St. John's 52, Wetmore 40
CENTRAL PLAINS GIRLS (38-14)
19 STATE TRIPS (8-0 FINALS)
2021—1A DIV. 2—Central Plains 51, St. Paul 32; Central Plains vs. Golden Plains
2020—1A—Central Plains 93, Ingalls 47
2019—1A—Central Plains 76, South Gray 28; Central Plains 76, Thunder Ridge 38; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 52, Hanover 34; Coach—Pat Stiles
2018—2A—Central Plains 55, Inman 30; Central Plains 60, Hill City 35; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 48, Valley Heights 32; Coach—Pat Stiles
2017—2A—Central Plains 60, Chase County 30; Central Plains 53, Valley Falls 41; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 60, Alma-Wabaunsee 48; Coach—Pat Stiles
2016—2A—Central Plains 48, Pittsburg Colgan 24; Central Plains 53, Hill City 47; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 62, Olpe 51; Coach—Pat Stiles
2015—2A—Central Plains 62, Alma-Wabaunsee 52; Central Plains 64, Meade 51; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 46, Moundridge 33; Coach—Pat Stiles
2014—2A—Central Plains 47, Pittsburg Colgan 38; Central Plains 60, Meade 45; CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 47, Jefferson North 45; Coach—Pat Stiles
2012—2A—Central Plains 46, Oakley 35; Olpe 57, Central Plains 46; THIRD PLACE—Republic County 48, Central Plains 47
2007—1A—Centralia 43, Claflin 30
2006—1A—Claflin 44, Pike Valley 17; Claflin 54, Golden Plains 45; CHAMPIONSHIP—Claflin 47, Greensburg 35; Coach—Toby Holmes
2005—1A—Claflin 68, Jetmore 39; Claflin 50, Greensburg 30; CHAMPIONSHIP—Claflin 68, Wetmore 54; Coach—Toby Holmes
2004—1A—Claflin 54, Sedan 52; Sublette 65, Claflin 47; THIRD PLACE—Hoxie 65, Claflin 47
1997—1A—Claflin 69, Olpe 44; Centralia 56, Claflin 51; THIRD PLACE—Weskan 104, Claflin 74
1996—1A—Pretty Prairie 78, Claflin 74
1995—1A—Claflin 59, Hope 52; Marais Des Cygnes Val-ley 61, Claflin 48; THIRD PLACE—Logan 79, Claflin 76
1994—1A—Claflin 65, Wetmore 52; Logan 81, Claflin 78; THIRD PLACE—Claflin 62, Hutchinson Trinity 60
1987—1A—Quivira Heights 57, Grainfield-Wheatland 56, OT; Spearville 62, Quivira Heights 59; THIRD PLACE—Quivira Heights 58, Burrton 44
1983—1A—Claflin 46, Centralia 44; Grainfield-Wheatland 62, Claflin 38; THIRD PLACE—Frontenac 46, Claflin 30
