BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
DODGE CITY — The Central Plains girls led Troy 23-17 when Grace Lamatsch converted a 3-pointer in the third quarter of Wednesday's 1A Division 1 state basketball quarterfinal.
Just as quickly, the Oilers' state tournament magic vanished.
The Troy Trojans outscored the Oilers 16-2 in the final 12 minutes for a 33-25 quarterfinal victory.
Troy's Harper Whetstine, averaging 27 points, scored 19 points by converting 12-of-12 free throws. The Oilers committed four consecutive turnovers after trailing 27-25. Down 27-25, the Oilers had the misfortune of fouling Troy's best foul shooter Whetstine, who made six consecutive free throws.
"I'm so grateful to coach these girls. It's a tough loss, a gut punch," said Oiler coach Pat Stiles. "We really defended. The kids followed our scouting report. We guarded their out-of-bounds play. Defensively, we played extremely well."
Izzy Hurley and Adyson Green held Whetstine to 3 of 12 shooting.
"Izzy and Addy did a great defensive job on Whetstine," Stiles said.
The Oilers' offense was unable to solve an aggressive Troy defensive scheme.
Freshman Aevyn Siemsen scored 10 points and Marilyn Soeken added six points. After a nifty 6 of 8 start, the Oilers converted 5 of 23 shots (22%). Troy scored 18 points after 21 Oiler turnovers.
"Troy's pressure no doubt bothered us," Stiles said. "They were physical in their traps. They're a good basketball team that defends. We didn't get to the free throw line."
The Oilers misfired offensively with 11 of 31 shooting (35%) and 3 of 16 on 3-pointers (19%). Central Plains was scoreless on free throws with four misses. The Trojans outscored the Oilers 13-0 on free throws to overcome 8-40 (20%) shooting and 4-24 (17%) from 3-point range.
"Shots have to go in to win a game like that," Stiles said. "We had our opportunities. It's a team thing."
The Oilers graduate seniors Marilyn Soeken, Grace Lamatsch and Adyson Green.
"We'll miss our seniors," Stiles said.
Eight-time state basketball champion Central Plains (18-4) owns a 25-2 all-time record at the state tournament. The Oilers have lost two consecutive first-round games after starting 25-0 at the state tournament.
Central Plains 12 4 7 2 — 25
Troy 10 3 9 11 — 33
CENTRAL PLAINS (18-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Aevyn Siemsen 4-8 (2-6) 0-2 10, Soeken 3-7 (0-1) 0-0 6, Lamatsch 1-4 (1-3) 0-2 3, Izzy Hurley (0-2) 0-0 0, Green 0-3 (0-2) 0-0 0, Emery Siemsen 0-3 (0-2) 0-0 0, Totals 11-31 (3-16) 0-4 25
TROY (21-1) (FG 3 FT TP)—Whetstine 3-12 (1-8) 12-12 19, Weber 3-8 (3-6) 0-0 9, Gracie Grable 0-3 (0-2) 1-2 1, Judd 0-6 (0-4) 0-0 0, Franken 2-8 (0-4) 0-0 4, Alyson Grable 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 8-40 (4-24) 13-14 33
Rebounds—CP 26 (Strouse 6); Troy 28 (Whetstine 5). Assists—CP 10 (Strouse 4); Troy 5 (Whetstine 3). TO—CP 21, Troy 12
1A DIV. 1 GIRLS
3-14—SEMIFINALS—Centralia 23-0 vs. Troy 21-1, 2 p.m.; Little River 21-0 vs. Quinter 20-3, 6 p.m.; FIRST ROUND—Centralia 50, St. John 27; Troy 33, Central Plains 25; Little River 76, Crest 27; Quinter 65, South Gray 54
