Sports

The Wilson High School Lady Dragons opened their season at home Friday in a non-conference game against the Otis-Bison Lady Cougars.

Small, but mighty, the five-member team played tough on defense, making its presence known on the court, but couldn’t put points on the board.

In the end, the Cougars won the game 46-26.

Lady Dragon Kaleigh Hanzlick led her team with 14 points, including 10 points from the field and chipping in four points from free throws.

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No first game jitters, no rust. The Oiler Way was alive and well in Central Plains’ seasonopener against Hoisington Friday night. The Lady Oilers jumped out to a 33-4 lead after one quarter and never looked back in an 81-19 win.

“We don’t underestimate the competition but it’s a pretty great feeling the first night,” said senior Avery Hurley.

All eyes were on junior Emily Ryan, the leading scorer in Kansas last year. But it was almost everyone but Ryan finding the net early on. Central Plains took a minute to get on the board with a bucket from junior Addison Crites. Hurley added a basket 30 seconds later, then Ryan took a steal the distance for her first points of the season and a quick 6-0 lead at the 6:15 mark.

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Ellsworth returns three players taller than 6 feet who during the 2017-18 season combined for an average of 19 points per game and 11 rebounds.

The Bearcats finished the season with an overall record of 16-7 and a league record of 8-4. Their final game came in the 3A substate finals.

Returning starters from that team are: seniors 6’1” Bransen Schulte (4 pts., 3 rebounds) and 6’2” Grant Gwinner (10 pts., 5 rebounds).

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Ellsworth coach Steve Thorburn and his wrestlers are looking forward to a more successful season after struggling at times in 2017. “Our kids attended and learned a ton at summer camp in Missouri this past June,” he said. “We are led by senior Tyson Hall, who we are expecting big things from this year.

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NEWTON — The undefeated Central Plains Oilers won the 2018 8-man Division I Football title Saturday, with a bruising 52-6 victory over Solomon in just three quarters of football at the championship game in Newton.

With a perfect 12-0 record coming into the game, Central Plains earned home field advantage against the Gorillas (11-1) and the forest green of the Oiler Nation almost filled the north grandstand of Fischer Field. To the south, the scarlet of Solomon overflowed the visitor stands and lined the oval fence surrounding the gridiron.

Two things made the Oiler Nation a bit uneasy prior to kickoff.

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By MARK McCOY
Ellsworth County I-R

CLAFLIN — Central Plains’ Death Valley claimed another tribe of gridiron warriors as the Oilers blanked the St. Francis Indians, 42-0, Saturday in the semi-final 8-man Division I playoff game in Claflin.

Once again, it was cold. Temperatures hovered at the 28-30 degree mark with north-to-northeast winds gusting at over 25 m.p.h. as the contest began. The brave (or foolish) souls of the Oiler Nation that witnessed the most recent massacre at Death Valley (instead of watching the live-stream from the warm comfort of their homes) were bundled in layers upon layers of clothing with insulated coveralls being the most popular fashion choice.

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The post season honors continue to mount for Ellsworth area volleyball players.

Congratulations to Lakyn Tenbrink for being selected to the Kansas Volleyball Association’s 2A All State 2nd Team and to Sierra Kraatz for making the 2A All State Honorable Mention Team.

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BY MARK McCOY
Ellsworth County I-R

HOXIE — Topranked Central Plains destroyed defending 8-man Division I champion and fifth-ranked Hoxie, 54-6, Friday in Hoxie.

It was cold, although members of the Oiler Nation attending the game agreed it was not as brutal as the 2014 match-up against the Eagles in Ness City. The temperature was 20 degrees as the game began and steadily declined during the course of action.

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Three Ellsworth High School Lady Bearcat volleyball players were named to the North Central Activities Association first team — from left, junior Lakyn Tebrink, sophomore Shaylee Leiker and senior Sierra Kraatz. “This is quite an honor,” said head coach Amy Johnson. They joined five players from Beloit, three from Minneapolis and one from Republic County on the first team.”

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