BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Central Plains girls basketball coach Pat Stiles (266-12) has created a juggernaut that has captured eight consecutive state basketball championships.
The Oiler girls own 18 Kansas high school state records, including 54 consecutive postseason wins and 25 consecutive state tournament wins during the past 10 seasons.
Stiles faces his toughest challenge in the past 10 years. The Oilers are undersized with 5-9 Addy Ogle and 5-9 Melissa Donecker generally facing a height disadvantage. The Oilers’ edge is feature all-stater Brynna Hammeke (20 ppg), who has thrived in postseason play the past two seasons.
There is little margin of error for the No. 3 ranked Oilers, who survived a substate that included No. 1 Little River and No. 2 Pretty Prairie. Kyla Metro converted key 3-pointers that helped the Oilers win 28-23 against St. John in the substate finals.
“Our girls are playing good basketball,” Stiles said. “They’ve rallied together. They’re playing the ‘Oiler Way,’ with great effort and being unselfish with the basketball.”
The Oilers (19-4) open Wednesday against Highland-Doniphan West (18-5), a crafty state qualifier which has lost twice to Hanover (22-0), state qualifiers Frankfort (20-3) and Riverside (20-3) and substate finalist Clifton-Clyde.
“Highland has played a tough schedule,” Stiles said. “They’ll pressure man-to-man, which is fine because we believe we’ll handle that pressure. They play a fast pace, which is good too. They’re going to be a tough team to play.”
Stiles likes his team’s defensive flexibility that allows the Oilers to play man-to-man or zone defense. Either way, Hammeke keys the defense with her quickness.
“If we match up, we’ll play man-to-man,” he said. “When we don’t match up inside, we’ll play zone defense. But we always want to talk to each other to know where their shooters are. We always want to find how well their guards handle pressure defense.”
Sophomore Marilyn Soeken (12 ppg) has been a reliable second offensive option. Soeken enjoys driving the basketball to the basket. Metro and Addy Ogle are reliable spot-up 3-point shooters.
The Oilers lost to 2A state qualifier Berean Academy 45-29, 3A unbeaten Phillipsburg 54-39, Wichita Sunrise 60-28 and Little River 67-56.
“Playing better teams makes you improve,” he said. “They show your weaknesses, which you can work on. We’ve been in tight games, which helps us.”
Last year, the Oilers edged Rexford Golden Plains 50-38 for the 1A Division 2 state championship.
The Oilers (87-1) have swept 11 consecutive Central Prairie League titles.
1A DIV. 1 GIRLS STATE DODGE CITY
WEDNESDAY
2 p.m.—Norwich 20-2 vs. Canton-Galva 15-8
4 p.m.—Central Plains 19-4 vs. Doniphan West 17-5
6 p.m.—Quinter 19-3 vs. Olpe 15-7
8 p.m.— Frankfort 19-3 vs. South Gray 16-6
CENTRAL PLAINS OILERS
2—Grace Lamatsch, 5-5, 10
3—Brynna Hammeke, 5-8, 12
10—Addy Ogle, 5-9, 11
12—Kylie Kempke, 5-6, 10
13—Lauren Oeser, 5-8, 11
15—Kyla Metro, 5-4, 12
21—Reese McGuire, 5-4, 12
22—Isabel Hurley, 5-5, 9
24—Melissa Donecker, 5-9, 11
25—Mackenzie Foulger, 5-2, 10
33—Marilyn Soeken, 5-6, 10
40—Taylor Sheehy, 5-7, 11
OILERS AT STATE
2022 (24-1)—Golden Plains 50-38
2021 (22-3)—Cunningham 39-35
2020 (25-0)—semifinals
2019 (27-0)—Hanover 52-34
2018 (26-0)—Valley Heights 48-32
2017 (26-0)—Wabaunsee 60-48
2016 (26-0)—Olpe 62-51
2015 (25-1)—Moundridge 46-33
2014 (26-0)—Jefferson North 47-45
