DODGE CITY – Emily Ryan’s signature play is called “CP.”
Central Plains Oiler Ryan delivered a perfect pass flying out-of-bounds to teammate Rachel Lamatsch to end the third quarter of the 1A state basketball championship game with a 3-pointer.
“That was a huge shot by Rachel,” Ryan said. “That showed how hard she works on her shot.”
The Oilers delivered the finishing touches on a 52-34 championship victory over two-time state champion Hanover to snap the Wildcats’ 19-game postseason winning streak.
All-stater Ryan scored 29 points with six assists and six blocks with 15 of 16 free throws. She finished the state tournament with 88 points, 18 assists and 18 steals. Oiler Delaney Rugan added 10 points.
Washburn University basketball signee Macy Doebele gave the Oilers fits with 11 first-half points as the Oilers led 21-20. Delaney Rugan and Addison Crites each had three fouls.
The Oilers scored six points for a 27-21 halftime lead. Ryan scored twice and Avery Hurley added a basket off a steal.
“We knew it’s a tough game especially being a state championship where you can face some adversity,” Ryan said. “ I was proud of the way we played through that.”
The Oilers (27-0) earned their Kansas state record sixth consecutive state title. They’ve won a state record 111 consecutive games and a state record 37 consecutive postseason games.
“I’m so proud and lucky to coach these girls,” said Central Plains coach Pat Stiles. “The girls kept fighting. We were in horrible foul trouble that first half.”
Oiler seniors Rylee Cunningham and Avery Hurley finished their careers with a 105-0 record. Central Plains is 130-1 over the past five years and 156-1 in the past six seasons.
“It’s amazing to win four state championships without a loss,” Stiles said. “It was cool to see our two seniors step up and play so well.”
Doebele converted 2 of 7 shots after halftime when the Oilers switched to a zone defense. Hanover was held without a field goal for 16 minutes when Emma Bruna scored with three minutes left for a 46-24 score.
“We couldn’t guard them in man-to-man, so we had to go zone,” Stiles said. “We talk and communicate so well. We identified their shooters and we did a good job.”
Doebele scored 15 points and Tianna Lohse scored nine points. The Wildcats made 4 of 20 second-half shots and missed eight 3-pointers.
Ryan was a stopper in the middle of the defense with her six blocks and six steals.
“We hang our hat on defense because defense wins championships,” Ryan said. “We did that tonight.”
The Wildcats missed 15 consecutive field goals in that 16-minute stretch. Ryan scored three baskets, Hurley scored and Lamatsch’s 3-pointer for a 38-24 lead.
Hanover 10 12 3 19 — 34
Central Plains 12 15 11 14 — 52
HANOVER (24-4)—Doebele 5-14 4-4 15, Stallbaumer 0-6 1-4 1, Emma Bruna 2-4 2-5 6, Lohse 3-9 1-1 9, Hendrickson 0-2 1-4 1, Hynck 0-4 2-3 2, Behrends 0-2 0-0 0, totals 10-41 11-21 34 CENTRAL PLAINS (27-0)— Emily Ryan 7-14 15-16 29, Lamatsch 1-4 0-0 3, Rugan 5-14 0-0 10, Cunningham 2-3 0-0 4, Avery Hurley 1-9 0-0 2, Crites 1-3 0-0 2, Potter 1-1 0-0 2, Jeffrey 0-0 0-0 0, Oeser 0-0 0-0 0, Nixon 0-0 0-0 0, totals 18-48 15-16 52 3-pointers—H 3-18 (Lohse 2-7, Doebele 1-3, Stallbaumer 0-3, E. Bruna 0-2, Behrends 0-1, Hendrickson 0-2); CP 1-10 (Lamatsch 1-4, Rugan 0-1, Ryan 0-2, A. Hurley 0-3); Rebounds—H 33 (Doebele 1) CP 35 (Rugan 10); Assists —H 5 (Stallbaumer 2); CP 11 (Ryan 6); Steals—H 6 (Doebele 3) CP 10 (A. Hurley 4); TO—H 15, CP 11
