BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
DODGE CITY — The Coldwater South Central Timberwolves have solved the 1A state basketball formula.
After placing third and second the past two years, South Central roared past Central Plains 49-30 with stifling defense to earn a return trip to the 1A Division 1 state championship game. Olpe downed South Central 47-34 in last year's 1A title game.
The Timberwolves tandem of 6-4 Jack Herd (19 points) and 6-7 Eli Girk (11 points) dominated the paint with 30 points, 18 rebounds and effective inside defense that shut down Oiler all-stater Brodie Crites.
Herd padded the stat sheet with 14 rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Herd and Girk combined for 13 first-quarter points and the Timberwolves maintained control.
The Oilers sliced the lead to 33-28 with an effective 11-5 scoring run to start the third quarter. Rylan Siemsen scored four points, Peyton Dody three and Crites and Camden Stiles two apiece.
But the Thunderbirds ended any drama with a 14-0 scoring burst for a 47-28 lead when the Oilers went scoreless for eight minutes. Herd scored 10 fourth-quarter points.
Crites struggled against the height and size of Herd and Girk. He converted 3 of 11 field goals for six points, 16 below his 22-point average. Crites contributed a team high five assists and grabbed five rebounds.
Stiles was effective offensively with 2 of 3 shots from 3-point range and 5 of 6 free throws when he was fouled attempting a pair of 3-pointers. Stiles scored 11 points on five 3-point shots. Doty added seven points.
Both teams made 3 of 9 shots from 3-point range. South Central outscored the Oilers 32-14 on field goals inside the 3-point stripe. The Timberwolves converted 16 of 27 shots (59%) inside the 3-point stripe.
The Timberwolves' scrappy defense held the Oilers to 10 of 27 shooting and forced 14 turnovers.
Central Plains (24-3) plays Norwich (22-5) for third place at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Dodge City. South Central (21-4) plays Beloit St. John's (22-2) for Saturday's 1A Division 1 championship.
South Central 6 9 10 9 — 49
Central Plains 13 6 26 12 — 30
SOUTH CENTRAL (21-4)—Jack Herd 8-12 3-6 19, Eli Girk 5-8 1-2 11, Willems 3-6 (0-1) 0-0 6, Price (2-3) 0-0 6, Isaac Girk 0-1 1-2 1, Huck (0-3) 2-2 2, Thronesbery 1-3 (1-2) 1-2 4, Totals 19-36 (3-9) 8-14 49
CENTRAL PLAINS (24-3)—Stiles (2-3) 5-6 11, Dody 2-3 (1-1) 2-2 7, Crites 3-11 (0-1) 0-0 6, Siemsen 3-7 (0-2) 0-0 6, Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Lamatsch (0-1) 0-0 0, Kempke (0-1) 0-0 0, Totals 10-27 (3-9) 7-8 30
1A DIV. 1 BOYS, DODGE CITY (3-14)—1ST—South Central (21-4) vs Beloit St. John's (22-2); 3RD—Central Plains (24-3) vs Norwich (22-5); SEMIFINALS—South Central 49, Central Plains 30; Beloit St. John's 61, Norwich 53; QUARTERFINALS—Central Plains 57, Canton-Galva 34; South Central 38, Kiowa County 23; Beloit St. John's 62, Flinthills 44; Norwich 49, Rural Vista 35
