Sports

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Few teams have found a way to slow the Central Plains boys — winners of their last 32 games entering the Dec. 18 year-end contest at Ellinwood. The Eagles held Central Plains to just 43 points but the Oilers still cruised to a 43-21 win.

The stall began in the second quarter. By then, Central Plains already led 17-9 thanks to an eightpoint first quarter from Brett Liebl and nine combined points from seniors Devin Ryan and Alex Hickel.

With Ellinwood moving the ball around the perimeter in search of an opening, the teams combined for just 10 points in the second quarter.

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The Lady Oilers are favorites in most ball games they enter. Central Plains made the short trip to Ellinwood Dec. 18 for the 2018 finale. Facing a diminished Lady Eagle squad, the Lady Oilers scored the first 19 points of the game and never looked back in an 86-15 win.

Emily Ryan was again a big factor early on with 15 points in the first quarter. Her basket just over three minutes in made the score 15-0, then she scored on a pass from Avery Hurley 40 seconds later. A Delaney Rugan basket made for the 19-0 score before Ellinwood got on the board at the 3:02 mark.

“(Coach) told us when they run the flex to just jump to the ball,” Rugan said. “We really came through on that and held them to just a few points in the first quarter and half.”

The gap atop the Central Prairie League is a large one. St. John could contend for the No. 2 spot in the league later this season.

A week ago at Claflin, the Lady Tigers slowed Central Plains to just 22 points at the half. The top-ranked Lady Oilers still came up a basket shy of a running clock in a 54-28 win.

“I have some awesome kids,” said Lady Oiler coach Pat Stiles.“They just always come through. They’re really good basketball players and they love playing for each other.”

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Despite a rough start to the season, the Wilson Lady Dragons picked up a win this past week on the road against Palco High School, defeating the Roosters 40-31 on Dec. 11.

Lady Dragon Macy Hanzlick led her team with 18 points, five rebounds, seven steals and three turnovers. She was followed by teammate Kaleigh Hanzlick, who scored 13 points, and had five rebounds and six steals. Kaleigh also had nine turnovers and two blocks.

Other scorers were Kami Thrasher with four points, Bryna Hill with three points and Kaylee Boxberger with two points. Boxberger also had eight rebounds. Lady Dragon Kaitlyn Hoeffner had three rebounds, a steal, five turnovers and a block.

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Bearcat heavyweight grappler Tyler Walford won his bracket Friday at the Lincoln/Russell Round Robin wrestling tournament in Russell.

Five teams competed in the contest with 6A Hays taking the team title with 219 points. The ‘Cats placed fourth with a total of 70.5 points.

The Bearcat Wrestling Clan was well represented, including many former Bearcat grapplers and their families.

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The Wilson High School Lady Dragons lost 36-32 to the Tescott Trojans during the opening round of the Tescott Tip-Off on Monday, Dec. 3.

The Lady Dragons were led by Kaleigh Hanzlick with 15 points, including six rebounds, six assists, eight steals, three turnovers and five blocks.

She was followed by Macy Hanzlick with nine points, six rebounds, one assist, eight steals, five turnovers and one block; Kaitlyn Hoeffner with eight points, seven rebounds, one steal, three turnovers and one block; and Kami Thrasher with three rebounds, two steals, six turnovers and one block.

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The third-seeded Ellsworth Lady Bearcats opened the 2018 Amos Morris Classic tournament in Russell this past week against the fourth-ranked Smith Center Lady Reds.

But the meeting didn’t end as Ellsworth hoped as the Bearcats were defeated 51-28 in the first round. The Lady ‘Cats were unable to put points on the board, sinking just 11 of 35 total field goals attempted.

At the line, Ellsworth made four of six free throws. The Lady Bearcats were led by Lakyn Tenbrink, with 13 points, including three free throws.

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The Central Plains Oilers swept the Amos Morris Classic tournament, downing Phillipsburg 46-27 to win Saturday’s boys championship game.

But the tournament game not only decided who would be crowned champion, but also served as a rematch between the Panthers and the Oilers.

One year ago, Central Plains outscored Phillipsburg, 59-27, in the tournament, giving the Panthers their only loss during the regular season.

During Saturday’s game, Central Plains’ Brett Liebl led the Oilers, scoring 17 points. Teammate Alex Hickel added 11 points.

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Central Plains’ Emily Ryan scored 29 points, with seven steals and six assists, to lift the Oilers past the Phillipsburg Panthers to win the Amos Morris Basketball Classic championship Saturday in Russell.

It was the second time the two teams squared off during the 2018 tournament. And in both games, Central Plains not only won, but did so by nearly 50 points in the first game and by a margin of more than 50 points in the final matchup. Avery Hurley scored 12 points, and Rachel Lamatsch added nine points. The Oilers led 28-4 after the first quarter, maintaining a lead of 46-10 at halftime. In the end, the Oilers defeated Phillipsburg, 66-19 for the win.

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