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Oilers, Cougars, Tigers win openers
peyton ryan
PHOTO LORI FARMER Great Bend Tribune Oiler Peyton Ryan throws up a masterpiece on a reverse layup.

CENTRAL PLAINS 65, KINSLEY 36  Central Plains Oiler Peyton Ryan was on fire with a 25-point night and eight field goals in a 65-36 substate basketball victory over Kinsley. Ryan Hekele (14) and Brodie Crites (10) scored in double figures.

The Oilers outscored Kinsley 20-1 in the third quarter for a compared to Kinsley’s 1 point.

Kinsley's Kaden Arensman scored 21 points in an inspired effort. The Oilers beat the Coyotes for the second time in six days.

“It’s win or go home, and we aren’t ready to go home," said Oiler coach Michael Ryan said. "Every win matters this time of year. Tomorrow we’ll start preparing for the next battle.” 

Kinsley 7 15 1 13 — 36

C. Plains 18 18 20 9  — 65

KINSLEY (1-20)—Arensman 9 3-5 21, Seanes 5 0-0 10, Lemuz 2 1-1 5, Totals 16 4-6 36.

CENTRAL PLAINS (17-4)—Peyton Ryan 8 6-10 25, Hekele 5 5-5 15, Crites 4 2-3 10, Klima 2 0-0 4, Siemnsen 1 0-0 3, Schreiber 2 0-0 4, Daniels 2 0-0 4, Totals 24 13-14 65.

3-pointers—CP 4 (Ryan 3, Siemsen 1).

1A DIV. 1 ST. JOHN—Hodgeman County 57, Spearville 55; Central Plains 65, Kinsley 36; Macksville 52, St. John 44; 2-29—La Crosse 17-2 vs. Hodgeman County 13-8, 6; Central Plains 17-4 vs. Macksville 15-6, 7:30  

OTIS-BISON 53, STAFFORD 44 — Otis-Bison coach Cutis Little struck lightning for the third consecutive year with a 53-44 upset over Stafford, the host site for the Div. 1 basketball substate. Jake Hoopingarner sparked the upset with a 16-point night and kelson Juno chipped in 11 points. The Cougars (6-15) converted four 3-pointers. Hoopingarner, Riley Polly and Eston Juno converted third-quarter 3-pointers for a 40-30 lead. 

Stafford's Jimi Oleson scored 19 points in an inspired effort, but the Trojans converted 18 of 58 field goals (31%).

The substate opener showcased a perfect postseason feeling.

"That's the third year in a row we've earned a first-round playoff upset," Little said. "Our guys really competed. We were super locked in on our game plan. The atmosphere was amazing. We brought our band. Both teams had huge crowds. It was so much fun for our guys to compete in that atmosphere." 

The Cougars sharpened their game plan after losing 54-36 and 33-31 to Stafford earlier in the season.

"They beat us at the beginning of the year and right before Christmas break. Our guys were excited to get a playoff win on the road."

Otis-Bison 12 11 17 13 — 53

Stafford 14 10 6 14 — 44

OTIS-BISON (6-15)—Hoopingarner 7-14 1-4 16, Kelson Juno 4-11 3-5 11, Riley Polly 2-3 1-2 7, McVey 3-3 0-2 7, Eston Juno 1-6 2-2 5, Morrison 2-4 0-2 4, Maier 0-0 3-4 3, Alloway 0-0 0-2 0, Totals 19-41 10-23 53.

STAFFORD (8-12)—Oleson 7-17 4-4 19, Lowther 3-13 0-1 8, Tort 4-6 0-0 8, Knoche 1-8 0-2 2, Simmons 1-8 0-0 3, Sedore 2-3 0-0 4, Berenguel 0-4 0-0 0, Totals 18-58 4-7 44.

3-pointers—OB 4-10 (Polly 2-3, McVey 1-1, Hoopingarner 1-4, Morrison 0-2); S 3-16 (Lowther 2-9, Oleson 1-4, Tort 0-1, Knoche 0-2).

PAWNEE HEIGHTS 63, TESCOTT 51  Pawnee Heights Tiger Davin Hamby scored a career high 35 points with 11 field goals to spark a 63-51 substate victory over Tescott. Reed Stedje scored 12 points and Brady Carlson added nine points. The Tigers led 25-12 after one quarter and stayed in control.

Tescott's Dawson Lee scored 13 points.

Pawnee Hts. 25 15 11 12 — 63

Tescott 12 13 9 17 — 51

PAWNEE HEIGHTS (4-17)—Hamby 11 10-14 35, Stedje 6 0-0 12, Carlson 4 0-0 9, Hammeke 1 4-5 6, Enabit 0 1-6 1, Totals 22 14-25 63.

TESCOTT (8-9)—Lee 5 1-2 11, Miller 4 0-0 10, Otting 2 4-8 8, Peters 2 4-4 8, Phelps 3 1-2 7, Stirn 1 2-2 4, Trow 1 0-0 2, Dickerson 0 1-2 1, Totals 17 15-22 51.

3-pointers—PH 4 (Hamby 3, Carlson 1); T (Miller 2).

1A DIV. 2 STAFFORD—Otis-Bison 53, Stafford 44; Victoria 73, Chase 7; Pawnee Heights 63, Tescott 51; 2-29—Beloit St. John’s 11-7 vs. Otis-Bison 6-15, 6; Victoria 11-10 vs. Pawnee Heights 4-17, 7:30