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Oiler boys lose semifinal to Olpe Eagles
Oilers are 11-3 all-time at state tourney
SPT_LF_ Brodie Crites DSC_36722.jpg
Brodie Crites - photo by Lori Farmer
Updated: Mar 15, 2025, 8:00 PM
Published: Mar 14, 2025, 11:21 PM

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DODGE CITY — Olpe's offense converted 20 Central Plains turnovers into 21 points to spark a hard-fought 44-34 semifinal victory Friday over the Oilers in the 1A Division 1 state basketball tournament. Olpe's aggressive defense held the Oilers to 24 field goal attempts.

"Our key statistic was way too many turnovers," said Central Plains coach Michael Ryan. "That's not a recipe for success. It was a physical game that we didn't handle very well. They bumped us around defensively."

Olpe (22-2) scored five times on uncontested layups after creating Oiler turnovers in the first half for a 17-13 lead. Olpe's Korrel Robinson ignited a fourth-quarter surge with a pair of steals that led to breakaway baskets. The Eagles had 12 steals. Olpe grabbed 14 offensive rebounds that led to 42 field goal attempts, but the Eagles went scoreless on second-chance points.

"We committed too many live ball turnovers that led to scores," Ryan said. "Olpe did a nice job defensively. We didn't score consistently in our half-court offense."

Olpe led 31-29 after three quarters, but the Oilers scored one basket by Peyton Dody in the next 71/2 minutes. Olpe converted seven free throws and a trio of baskets in the fourth quarter. Oiler Brodie Crites converted a last-second 3-pointer for a 44-34 final.

Olpe's Dexton Hoelting was a 2-way sparkplug, scoring 18 points with a trio of 3-pointers. Hoelting's denial defense shut out Crites at halftime. Crites rallied to score 11 second-half points. The Eagles did a solid job limiting the Oilers to 3 of 9 field goals from 3-point range.

Ryan believed the Oilers' defense was competitive.

"Our defense was solid," he said. "Olpe had to work for everything they got on offense."

Two-time state champion Central Plains captured 1A titles in 2018 and 2019. Central Plains is 11-3 all-time at the state tournament with a runner-up finish in 2015 and a third-place finish in 2016.

Central Plains 9 4 16 5— 34

Olpe 8 9 14 13 — 44

CENTRAL PLAINS (18-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crites 3-5 (1-2) 4-4 11, Stiles 2-5 (2-4) 3-3 9, Peyton Dody 4-7 (0-1) 0-0 8, Hekele 1-4 (0-1) 2-7 4, Siemsen 1-2 (0-1) 0-0 2, Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 11-24 (3-9) 9-14 34

OLPE (22-2) (FG 3 FT TP)—Hoelting 6-13 (3-8) 3-4 18, Bailey 4-9 (2-6) 0-0 10, McGuire 3-13 (0-1) 4-6 10, Robinson 2-5 (0-3) 0-2 4, Kurzen 1-1 0-0 2, Lieneman 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 16-42 (5-18) 7-12 44

Rebounds—CP 19 (Daniels 4); Olpe 22 (McGuire 9). Assists—CP 5 (Hekele 2, Siemsen 2); Olpe 8 (McGuire 5). Steals—CP 7 (Crites 4); Olpe 12 (McGuire 3, Robinson 3). Technical—Hekele

1A DIV. 1 BOYS 3-15—1ST—Olpe 22-2 vs. South Central 22-2, 6:15; 3RD—Central Plains 18-5 vs. South Gray, 19-5, 2; 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 (11-3)

2025—Oilers 54, Frankfort 22; Olpe 44, Oilers 34; 3RD—Oilers vs. South Gray

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
Crites sparks Oilers for overtime victory over Frankfort
SPT_LF_ the moms DSC_11502.jpg
The Moms - photo by Lori Farmer
Updated: Mar 14, 2025, 3:24 PM
Published: Mar 13, 2025, 11:06 PM
BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com DODGE CITY — Central Plains outscored Frankfort 10-0 in overtime for a 54-44 quarterfinal victory in the 1A Division 1 basketball quarterfinals. Brodie Crites, Camden Stiles and Aiden Hekele combined for 10 overtime points. "By far, that's my favorite win as a coach because Frankfort is the best team we've beaten," said Central Plains coach Michael Ryan. "Our guys stepped up and made free throws when we needed them." Crites scored 23 points and Stiles added 16 points. Both teams scored 27 points on 3-pointers. The Oilers converted 9 of 17 on 3-pointers to match Frankfort's 9 of 24 shooting. Frankfort's Wes Anderson drilled a half-dozen 3-pointers and scored 22 points, Tyler Smith added 12 points. Central Plains trailed 43-39 in the fourth quarter after Frankfort converted four consecutive 3-pointers. Crites scored the Oilers' final five points in regulation for a 44-44 tie after four quarters. Frankfort sparkplug Wes Anderson missed a chance for a 4-point lead on a missed free throw. Crites followed with a free throw and a rebound basket for a 44-44 tie. "We kept our confidence. It wasn't time to panic," Ryan said. The Oilers had maintained control until Anderson and Smith combined for five second-half 3-pointers for a 43-39 lead. The Panthers missed a chance for the game-winning shot in regulation when Carter Olson traveled. Anderson drilled a trio of 3-pointers to spark the Panthers to a 13-3 lead after one quarter. The Oilers started 1 for 9 from the field. Crites hit a pair of 3-pointers and Stiles hit a 3-pointer and three free throws off a foul for a 22-19 halftime lead. Ryan's Oilers played a calculated gamble playing a 2-3 zone defense that protected the rim and allowed the Panthers to fire from 3-point range. The Oilers scored 27 points from the perimeter and 27 points on free throws and 2-pointers. "Frankfort had an athletic team that plays a physical style and attacks the rim. We wanted to protect the paint," Ryan said. "We did a good job defensively. They're good shooters, so we knew they'd make some shots. Fortunately, we made some 3-pointers of our own to match them. We were fine with that option." Frankfort 13 6 10 15 0 — 44 Central Plains 3 19 13 9 10 — 54 FRANKFORT (18-7) (FG 3 FT TP)—Anderson 7-18 (6-15) 2-3 22, Smith 4-8 (3-5) 1-2 12, Loiseau 3-6 1-3 7, Rosquist 1-5 0-0 2, Olson 0-5 (0-3) 1-2 1, Colvin 0-3 (0-1) 0-0 0, Totals 15-45 (9-24) 5-10 44. CENTRAL PLAINS (19-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crites 7-14 (4-6) 5-7 23, Stiles 3-8 (3-7) 7-7 16, Hekele 4-7 (1-2) 0-0 9, Siemsen 2-5 (1-2) 0-0 5, Dody 0-1 1-2 1, Daniels 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 16-37 (9-17) 13-16 54 Rebounds—F 29 (Rosquist 11); CP 26 (Crites 6). Assists—F 12 (Anderson 5); CP 12 (Crites 5). Steals—F 7 (Colvin 2, Anderson 2); CP 3 (Crites 2) 1A DIV. 1 BOYS 3-14—SEMIFINALS—Olpe 21-2 vs. Central Plains 18-4, 4 p.m.; South Central 21-2 vs. South Gray 19-4, 8 p.m.; FIRST ROUND—Olpe 57, Little River 53; Central Plains 54, Frankfort 44 (OT); South Central 52, Clifton Clyde 38; South Gray 66, Quinter 47
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