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
