CLAFLIN – Emily Ryan trotted through the pillar of players and cheerleaders with a drowning ovation from the hometown Oiler fans when her name echoed through the speakers.
She high- fived Rachel Lamatsch at the half court circle then extended another to Delaney Rugan. To the back of Ryan was a full row of onlookers awaiting another masterful performance for the 5-foot-9 forward recruited by several Big 12 schools, including Kansas and Oklahoma.
Ryan clapped twice, and uttered, “okay, time to go.”
Ryan is just a sophomore, barking out orders and plays at the top of the key like a poised senior. Her Oilers’ churned out a 15-0 run to start the game over rival St. John, who didn’t make its first field goal until 3:31 in the first quarter. The run eventually resulted in a one-side 67-29 win on a 30-point night by Ryan, who sat out the fourth quarter.
It doesn’t matter to Ryan if she scores or dishes the assists, like one of nine to Lamatsch, who knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a 20-2 game in the first quarter.
“Honestly, we just do whatever it takes to win,” Ryan said. “If I have to get more assists that night, that’s what I’m going to try to do. I’m lucky to have great teammates that can finish.”
Central Plains head coach Pat Stiles wasn’t at the game Friday. Stiles was tending to the aid of Central Plains and Kansas legend, his daughter, Jackie Stiles, the player Ryan is drawing comparisons to. In January, Jackie was diagnosed with ocular melanoma, a rare cancers that affects roughly six in one million people.
The community has raised over $30,000 to assists Jackie and her family.
“She means so much to this community,” Ryan said. “The Stiles family in general, and especially her. So we’re doing whatever we can to help out during this hard time.”
A Ryan baseline runner made it 36-5 with 3:34 to play in the second quarter and a pair of free throws after the floater pushed the insurmountable deficit to 35 with a meaningless half of basketball remaining. Central Plains was up by 30, but Ryan was still orchestrating the team asking, "who are you guarding" during a mass substitution
The 35-point lead almost rivals the number of schools looking at Ryan. She’s not paying much attention to Kansas, Oklahoma or Nebraska yet, neither is her dad, assistant coach Jim Ryan.
“It’s just several of them,” Jim said. “I don’t know the number, but it has to be team first even with all of them around here. It’s exciting, but she’s doing a great job. The whole team is doing a great job.”
Jackie will forever dribble on the hearts of Central Plains, and Jim couldn’t help but smile when the comparisons derived between Jackie and his daughter Emily. Still, Jim knows Jackie is a lifetime player and person.
“There will never be another Jackie,” Jim said. “She was just an all-round great kid.”
Emily agrees.
“It’s an honor to be even be compared to her, but she’s the best ever,” Emily said. “It’s nice to hear that, but we all know who the best is.”
CENTRAL PLAINS 67 ST. JOHN 29
Central Plains;20;20;19;8;—;67
St. John;4;4;11;10;—;29