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Ellinwood girls surprise Central Plains 57-51
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Ellinwood's basketball team celebrates a 57-51 victory over Central Plains.
Updated: Feb 12, 2025, 8:16 PM
Published: Feb 11, 2025, 11:40 PM

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

CLAFLIN — The last time Ellinwood's girls upset Central Plains, the Oilers were in the midst of a state record 182-1 record and eight state basketball championships.

Ellinwood's Brynn Widener sparked a 57-51 Central Prairie League basketball victory over Central Plains Tuesday with five 3-pointers. The Eagles converted 10 of 19 3-pointers. Ellinwood showcased impressive shooting from long range to outscore the Oilers 30-18. 

Mette Maxwell scored 14 points. Julia Schlessiger scored 11 points, blocked shots and controlled the boards. Ellinwood (14-2, 5-1 CPL) and Central Plains (13-3, 5-1 CPL) are one-half behind CPL leader St. John.

It was Ellinwood's first victory over the Oilers since Feb. 24, 2015 when the Eagles earned a 66-56 victory to snap a 44-game Oiler winning streak. After that loss, the Oilers reeled off 138 consecutive victories and multiple state championships.

"These girls believe in themselves. They played fearless," said Ellinwood coach Greg Maxwell. "It was fun to see the girls go in with a mentality of confidence. These girls are having as much fun as I've ever seen. They've embraced the speed and physical nature of girls basketball."

The Oilers athletic Marilyn Soeken scored 16 first-half points to give the Eagles' defense concern. Alyvia Batchman keyed improved second-half defense. Soeken scored 24 points before fouling out.

"Alyvia gets the task of defending the other team's best offensive player," Maxwell said. "Alyvia did a great job. Marilyn Soeken is a physically talented player. You can't take everything away. Our goal was to slow her drives to the basket. We provided some defensive help and did a much better second-half job."

The Eagles ended the first half with 3-pointers by Brynn Widener and Mette Maxwell for a 21-20 lead. Maxwell hit a pair of 3-pointers and Brynn Widener added a triple for a 35-26 lead. Ellinwood made 7 of 10 third-quarter field goals for a 42-35 lead.

"These girls have a green light shooting the basketball," Maxwell said. "When they get their feet set, we want them to shoot it because we know they're good shooters."

When the Oilers rallied with a 31-point second half, the Eagles responded with superb team play. Ayla Ritchie and Schlessiger each dished out a pair of assists and Maxwell returned the favor with an assist to Ritchie. The Eagles kept attacking offensively and found the open shooters.

"I have utmost respect for coach Pat Stiles and the way the Oilers play basketball," Maxwell said. "It's a huge win for our basketball program. The girls have learned to adjust on the run during the game. Julia Schlessiger gives us an inside presence and everyone around her can knock down shots."

Ellinwood 10 11 21 15 — 57

Central Plains 16 4 15 16 — 51

ELLINWOOD (14-2, 5-1) (FG 3 FT TP)—Brynn Widener (5-6) 0-0 15, Maxwell 4-8 (4-7) 2-2 14, Schlessiger 5-8 1-3 11,  Ritchie 2-7 (0-1) 3-4 7, Regan Widener 1-1 2-2 4, Jacobs (1-1) 0-0 3, Batchman 1-9 (1-4) 1-2 3, Totals 19-40 (10-19) 9-13 57

CENTRAL PLAINS (13-3, 5-1)—Soeken 11-24 (2-8) 0-1 24, Aevyn Siemsen 4-15 (3-9) 0-0 11, Lamatsch 2-8 (1-6) 0-2 5, Emery Siemsen 1-1 0-0 2, Strouse 3-7 (0-1) 0-0 6, Green 0-0 1-2 1, Izzy Hurley 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2, Totals 22-58 (6-25) 1-5 51

CENTRAL PLAINS 50, ELLINWOOD 46 — Peyton Dody scored seven fourth-quarter points as Central Plains survived Ellinwood's Central Prairie League upset bid 50-46 in Tuesday's Barton County basketball showdown.

Aiden Hekele scored 18 points and Brodie Crites added 11 points for the first-place leader Oilers (14-2, 5-1 CPL).

Ellinwood (10-8, 3-3 CPL) was sparked by Landon Simpson with 25 points. The Eagles converted eight 3-pointers to outscore the Oilers 24-9 from long range.

Ellinwood 11 10 10 15 — 46

Central Plains 12 13 7 18 — 50

ELLINWOOD (10-8, 3-3)—Simpson 9 (4) 3-3 25, Hosman 3 (1) 0-0 7, Heinz (2) 0-0 6, Campbell Coleman 2 1-4 5, Wirtz (1) 0-0 3, Totals 17 (8) 4-7 46

CENTRAL PLAINS (14-2, 5-1)—Hekele 7 (1) 3-4 18, Crites 4 3-4 11, Stiles 2 (1) 0-0 5, Dody 3 (1) 0-2 7, Siemsen 1 4-8 6, Daniels 1 1-2 3, Totals 18 (3) 11-22 50
Oilers lose third-place game to South Gray
SPT_LF_ Coaching timeDSC_47272.jpg
Coach Ryan talking to the oilers in the final game of the 1A DI state basketball championship against South Grey. - photo by Lori Farmer
Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 2:13 AM
Published: Mar 16, 2025, 1:28 AM
BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com DODGE CITY — South Gray converted a trio of 3-pointers in the final minute of regulation and outlasted Central Plains 65-56 in overtime for third place in Saturday's 1A Division 1 state basketball tournament. The Rebels were down 49-44 and the Oilers converted 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute of regulation. But South Gray's Dyson Winfrey and Gavin Wahl made uncontested 3-pointers before Gavin Wahl made a tying 3-pointer despite hustling defense by Oiler Aiden Hekele. The Rebels' Gavin Wahl scored the first basket of overtime and South Gray converted 10 of 10 free throws for a 65-56 lead. The game finished with a unique twist after Hekele committed a foul with 14 seconds left in overtime. South Gray's Zachary Hendrickson was assessed a flagrant foul and ejected for shoving Hekele to the ground. After a brief discussion, game officials Ricci Tucker, Marty Steinert and Wyatt Dautel waved off the final four free throws and allowed the Oilers to inbound the basketball. Crites capped a superb sophomore season with 22 points. Hekele scored 15 points. Camden Stiles scored 11 points. The Oilers distributed 16 assists on 19 baskets. Crites dished out six assists South Gray's Gavin Wahl scored 17 points and Moore added 14 points. The Rebels converted 19 of 19 free throws. The intense battle featured 11 lead changes, eight in the first half. Central Plains took control with a 16-5 scoring burst for a 38-29 lead in the third quarter. Stiles, Crites and Hekele scored all 16 points. At that point, the Oilers had executed a near-perfect game plan guided by coach Michael Ryan. But the Rebels responded with a quick 13-4 burst fueled by a trio of 3-pointers for a 42-42 tie. Stiles converted a 3-pointer and Crites scored off a steal for a 49-44 lead. But the Rebels made their trio of 3-pointers for a 53-53 tie after four quarters. The Oilers return four starters and graduate Hekele, Logan Stroede and Ethan Grubb. Two-time state champion Central Plains (18-6) is 11-4 all-time at the state tournament. The Oilers lost 44-34 to eventual state champion Olpe in the 1A semifinals. Central Plains 13 15 12 13 3— 56 South Gray 11 13 13 16 12 — 65 CENTRAL PLAINS (18-6) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crites 8-15 (2-5) 4-4 22, Stiles 5-11 (4-8) 0-0 14, Hekele 4-9 (2-4) 5-6 15, Siemsen 2-6 (0-1) 1-2 5, Peyton Dody 0-1 0-0 0, Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 19-43 (8-19) 10-12 56 SOUTH GRAY (20-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Gavin Wahl 4-14 (2-6) 7-7 19, Moore (2-8) 8-8 14, Winfrey 2-3 4-4 10, Briscoe 5-8 0-0 10, Cameron Wahl 3-4 (2-2) 0-0 8, Totals 18-43 (10-25) 19-19 65 Rebounds—CP 22 (Siemsen 9); SG 26 (G. Wahl 7). Assists—CP 16 (Crites 6); SG 13 (Moore 7). Steals—CP 4 (Crites 4); SG 3 (C. Wahl 2). Flagrant foul—Z. Hendrickson 1A DIV. 1 BOYS 3-15—1ST—Olpe 47, South Central 34; 3RD—South Gray 65, Central Plains 56 (OT); SEMIFINALS—Olpe 44, Central Plains 34; South Central 64, South Gray 49; FIRST ROUND—Olpe 57, Little River 53; Central Plains 54, Frankfort 44 (OT); South Central 52, Clifton Clyde 38; South Gray 66, Quinter 47 OILERS STATE (11-4) 2025—Oilers 54, Frankfort 22; Olpe 44, Oilers 34; 3RD—South Gray 65, Oilers 56 2019—Oilers 55, Macksville 30; Oilers 59, Caldwell 41; 1ST—Oilers 40, St. John 28 2018—Oilers 58, Inman 42; Oilers 58, Salina Sacred Heart 36; 1ST—Oilers 47, Pittsburg Colgan 34 2015—Oilers 67, Jackson Heights 42; Oilers 69, Olpe 44; 1ST—St. John 49, Oilers 45 2016—Oilers 77, Lawrence Seabury 56; Salina Sacred Heart 62, Oilers 52; 3RD—Oilers 56, Hill City 25 CLAFLIN STATE (6-12) 2007—Olpe 60, Claflin 44 2006—Claflin 61, Lebo 54; Claflin 70, Brewster 55; 1ST—Macksville 55, Claflin 45 2000—Macksville 67, Claflin 64 1993—Frankfort 72, Claflin 64 1992—Pike Valley 67, Claflin 57 1986—Northern Valley 80, Claflin 55 1985—Highland 60, Claflin 56 1984—Pretty Prairie 59, Claflin 42 1983—Oswego 47, Claflin 45 1980—Garden Plain 79, Claflin 53 1977—Claflin 60, Hutchinson Trinity 58; Lebanon 60, Claflin 58; 3RD—Claflin 68, Mankato 50 1956—Claflin 62, Oswego 52; Claflin 56, Pretty Prairie 48; 1ST—Inman 67, Claflin 66 QUIVIRA HEIGHTS STATE (4-5) 1999—Lebo 69, Quivira Heights 47 1995—Brewster 64, Quivira Heights 67 1989—Spearville 88, Quivira Heights 60 1983—Quivira Heights 55, Inman 50; Thayer 64, Quivira Heights 43; 3RD—Quivira Heights 45, Brewster 40 1917—Bushton 28, Potter 6; Bushton 30, Macksville 8; 1ST—Winfield 23, Bushton 21
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