BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
OSBORNE — Red-hot twin sisters Emery Siemsen and Aevyn Siemsen spelled double trouble combining for 47 points to spark the Oilers past Mankato Rock Hills 61-38 in the 1A Division 1 Osborne basketball substate championship game.
Emery Siemsen scored 24 points with 7 of 9 shots on 3-pointers. Aevyn Siemsen scored 23 points with a pair of 3-pointers. The Oilers converted 11 of 22 3-pointers to outscore the Grizzlies 33-6 from long range.
"That was definitely our best game of the year," said Oiler coach Pat Stiles. "We shot the ball really well in rhythm. The girls have kept playing better and learned to play a more physical style. Our schedule has helped us get better."
The Grizzlies had no defensive answer to the Oilers' 3-point shooting. Emery Siemsen converted five consecutive 3-pointers and Aevyn Siemsen added a 3-pointer after halftime for a 54-20 lead after three quarters.
Grizzly point guard Bethany Simmerlink was brilliant with 22 points and several assists to teammates, who combined for 5 of 12 field goals. The Oilers' defense limited the Grizzlies to 26 field goal attempts.
The Oilers' 11 3-pointers was one more than their 10 field goals in a 28-24 semifinal victory over Beloit St. John's.
"We knew we could compete. If you defend like we're playing defense, it gives you a chance to survive," Stiles said. "St. John's played strong defense too."
Central Plains qualified for the girls state tournament for the 13th time in the past 15 years.
The Oilers (18-8) draw No. 1 state favorite Little River (23-2) in Wednesday's 4 p.m. 1A Division 1 state quarterfinals at Salina's Tony's Pizza Center. Little River owns four state championships and lost to Centralia and Frankfort in the state finals the past two years.
"Little River is, by far, the best 1A team with shooters, size and depth," Stiles said. "You've got to beat Little River if some other team is going to win it."
The Redskins (23-2) roared past the Oilers 50-25 when the teams met Jan. 23 at Claflin. The Redskins lost to No. 1 3A Halstead 52-48 and 6A state qualifier Wichita East 61-55.
Central Plains owns eight girls state basketball titles. Claflin captured two girls state championships.
Central Plains 10 20 24 7 — 61
Rock Hills 11 8 11 9 — 38
CENTRAL PLAINS (18-8)—Emery Siemsen 8-14 (7-9) 1-3 24; Aevyn Siemsen 6-13 (2-5) 9-9 23; Robl 2-6 (0-2) 2-2 6; Davis (2-2) 0-0 6; Hekele 0-0 0-4 0; Lilly Hurley 1-3 0-4 2; Izzy Hurley (0-3) 0-0 0; Nixon 0-1 0-0 0; Robison (0-1) 0-0 0; Nash 0-0 0-2 0; Totals 19-42 (11-22) 12-24 61
ROCK HILLS (20-5)—Simmerlink 8-14 (1-4) 5-7 22; Manning 1-1 6-6 8; Moser 1-6 (0-5) 0-2 3; Ost 1-3 (1-2) 0-2 3; Lindberg 0-2 0-0 0; Fogo 0-0 2-2 2; Coleman 0-0 1-2 1; Totals 11-26 (2-11) 14-21 38
1A DIV. 1 GIRLS STATE QUARTERFINALS (3-11)—Little River (23-2) vs Central Plains (18-8), 4 p.m. SALINA PIZZA CENTER; Centralia (21-3) vs Quinter (21-4), 12, SALINA PIZZA CENTER; Pretty Prairie (21-2) vs Hodgeman County (19-6), 12, WICHITA FRIENDS; Alma Wabaunsee (22-3) vs South Gray (19-5), 8 p.m. SALINA KANSAS WESLEYAN
OILER HISTORY (22-3)—2026—Little River 57, Oilers 27; 2025—Troy 33, Oilers 25; 2023—Doniphan West 60, Oilers 40;
2022—Oilers; Oilers; 1ST—Oilers;
2021—Oilers 51, St. Paul 32; Oilers 50, Golden Plains 39; 1ST—Oilers 39, Cunningham 34;
2020—Oilers 93, Ingalls 47;
2019—Oilers 63, South Gray 28; Oilers 78, Thunder Ridge 36; 1ST—Oilers 52, Hanover 34;
2018—Oilers 55, Inman 30; Oilers 60, Hill City 35; 1ST—Oilers 48, Valley Heights 32;
2017—Oilers 60, Chase County 30; Oilers 53, Valley Falls 41; 1ST—Oilers 60, Wabaunsee 48;
2016—Oilers 48, Pittsburg Colgan 24; Oilers 53, Hill City 47; 1ST— Oilers 62, Olpe 51;
2015—Oilers 62, Wabaunsee 52; Oilers 64, Meade 51; 1ST—Oilers 46, Moundridge 33;
2014—Oilers 47, Pittsburg Colgan 39; Oilers 60, Meade 45; 1ST— Oilers 47, Jefferson North 45
CLAFLIN HISTORY (13-9) —2006—Claflin 44, Pike Valley 17; Claflin 54, Golden Plains 45; 1ST—Claflin 47, Greensburg 31; 2005—Claflin 68, Jetmore 39; Claflin 50, Greensburg 30; 1ST—Claflin 68, Wetmore 54; 2004—Claflin 64, Sedan 52; Sublette 65, Claflin 47; 3RD—Hoxie 65, Claflin 57; 1997—Claflin 69, Olpe 44; Centralia 56, Claflin 51; 3RD—Weskan 104, Claflin 74; 1996—Pretty Prairie 78, Claflin 74; 1995—Claflin 59, Hope 52; Marias Des Cygnes 61, Claflin 48; 3RD—Logan 79, Claflin 76; 1994—Claflin 65, Wetmore 52; Logan 81, Claflin 78; Claflin 62, Hutchinson Trinity 60; 1983—Claflin 46, Logan 44; Wheatland 62, Claflin 38; 3RD—Frontenac 62, Claflin 38
QUIVIRA HEIGHTS HISTORY (2-1)—1987—Quivira Heights 47, Wheatland 46 (OT); Spearville 62, Quivira Heights 59; 3RD—Quivira Heights 58, Burrton 44
