BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
CENTRAL PLAINS GIRLS 58, RAWLINS COUNTY 48 — Central Plains Oiler Marilyn Soeken keyed a balanced offense with 16 points in a 58-48 championship victory over Atwood Rawlins County 58-48 to secure a state berth for the 9-time state basketball champions.
Maggie Strouse converted 6-of-6 field goals and scored 13 points. Freshman Emily Siemsen scored a career high 13 points with a pair of 3-pointers. The Oilers built a 39-24 lead before the Buffaloes scored 24 fourth-quarter points.
"Offensively, we shared the basketball," said Oiler coach Pat Stiles "Our offensive movement was the best we've played all year. We were patient and ran our offense. Maggie Strouse has come a long ways. Maggie did a nice job against St. John and she held her own against Ellinwood's big girl."
Tayten Dewey scored 19 points and scored her 1,000-career point during the fourth quarter. Kayte Shively scored 18 points
The Oilers played man defense, thanks to a suggestion by coach J.D. Johnson, instead of their typical matchup zone defense. Izzy Hurley held Camden Franklin (15 ppg) to five points. Aevyn Siemsen held Dewey to four first-half points.
"We've had success with zone. When Ellinwood shot lights out against us on 3-pointers, we knew we needed to play some man defense. We knew we'd face good shooting teams we've have to match up better."
The Oilers mixed 5 of 18 perimeter shooting with inside offense from Strouse and Soeken.
"We like to work the ball to the post to balance our offense," Stiles said. "There's times where you shoot too many 3s. You always like to work the ball inside."
The Oilers 12th state trip in 14 years was sealed by steady improvement. The Oilers beat state qualifier St. John twice and Phillipsburg. The Oilers own 10 state basketball titles and Claflin Wildcats won two state championships.
"We're young and lack some varsity experience," Stiles said. "Our goal was to play better every game. The last few weeks the girls started playing better together. Beating a quality team like St. John twice was a confidence-builder."
Rawlins County 6 8 10 24 — 48
Central Plains 19 5 15 19 — 58
RAWLINS COUNTY (17-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Dewey 7-13 (2-6) 3-4 19, Shively 8-15 (1-5) 1-3 18, Timm 0-1 0-0 0, FRanklin 1-5 (0-1) 3-4 5, Bolen 1-4 (1-2) 1-2 4, Carlson 0-4 (0-3) 0-0 0, Lankas 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 18-45 (4-17) 8-13 48
CENTRAL PLAINS (18-3) (FG 3 FT TP)—Soeken 4-9 (1-2) 7-10 16, Strouse 6-6 1-2 13, Emery Siemsen 5-10 (2-4) 1-2 13, Green 2-3 (1-1) 4-4 9, Aevyn Siemsen 1-8 (0-4) 0-0 2, Lamatsch (1-3) 1-4 4,Izzy Hurley (0-4) 1-2 1, Totals 19-43 (5-18) 15-24 58
COLBY B—3-7—CHAMPIONSHIP—Central Plains 58, Rawlins County 48; SEMIFINALS—Central Plains 63, Stockton 29; Rawlins County 57, Oberlin 52; FIRST ROUND—Stockton 43, Ness City 38; Oberlin 76, Lakeside 27
OILER STATE HISTORY (25-1)
2025—Oilers vs. Troy
2023—Doniphan West 60, Oilers 40
2022—Oilers 55, Beloit St. John's 28; Oilers 49, Hanover 44; 1ST—Oilers 50, Golden Plains 38
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 57, Wheatland 56; Spearville 62, Quivira Heights 59; 3RD—Quivira Heights 58, Burrton 44
