Reign the Plains Bragging Rights: Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink vs. Wheat State Elite – Ferguson (Chaos)

The hardwood of court 4 was nearly blistered Monday when the final whistle signaled that Wheat State Elite - Ferguson (Chaos) had survived a high octane battle with rival Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink in the most anticipated game of the Reign the Plains MAYB exposure tournament.  This was not just a "Queens of the Court," win the pool game.  This was a bragging rights game between two of the best, if not the best, club teams Kansas has to offer this summer.  Many of the crowd thought a college game broke out at Wichita Sports Forum. It had in a sort.  The teams each have many players committed, verbally and signed, to play at NCAA Division I and II schools come 2020.  Their play sealed that they belong there and their teammates made serious arguments that they should be also.  When all was said and done two beat up, exhausted teams congratulated each other and strode off with their coaches to collapse on the floor for a quick talk.  Both teams had been hammering opponents leading up to this game.  Both team's last games of the day, would be "survive the day" games.  Little gas was left in the tank after this one. From the tip Pink came out firing with 2020 guards Katie Horyna, a Abilene Christian commit from Liberal, and Gabbie Posch, a Newman University commit from Hutchinson HS, connecting on threes.  Chaos 2021 Center Jaidyn Schomp, Derby, answered with one of her own from the corner and the battle was on. Chaos 2020 center Maddie Wiltsie, a Nebraska-Kearney commit from Otis-Bison, figured into several highlights in a half that ended with Chaos leading 30-29. She created just enough space on a inside post up against denying Pink 2020 center Machia Mullens, a University of Missouri-Kansas City commit from Liberal, to catch a lob pass for a score. [caption id="attachment_73275" align="alignleft" width="233"] Wheat State Elite (Chaos) 2020 center Maddie Wiltsie (Otis-Bison) posts against Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink center Machia Mullens (Liberal) in a major Reign the Plains matchup.[/caption] While Wiltsie also showed great strength to score from the block through a hard foul from Pink 2020 power forward Faith Paramore, a Oral Roberts commit from Haven, She was overpowered by Pink point guard Horyna for a defensive rebound.  More highlights included 2020 Chaos guard Emma Ruddle's, a Fort Hays State commit from McPherson, physical defense against Paramore's empty 15 second isolation attempt to get to the rim against her from the high elbow. Pink 2020 point guard Taylor Jameson's, from Wichita Heights, step back 23' three pointer, and Pink 2020 forward Katie Wagner, a Fort Hays State commit from Maize South, using great body position to finish a layup against a shot block attempt from Schomp were also highlight plays. [caption id="attachment_73279" align="alignright" width="220"] Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink's 2020 power forward Faith Paramore (Haven) attacks the rim late in the game against Wheat State Elite - Chaos's 2021 center Jaidyn Schomp (Derby).[/caption] Rebounds, match-ups, and Chaos 2020 point guard Emily Ryan, a Iowa State commit from Central Plains, finally heating up after a three point first half, figured substantially in the game's outcome. Chaos 2021 post Jae'Mya Lyons, from Topeka, showed strength rebounding and controlling the ball on the defensive end.  Lyons also used a terrific head and shoulder fake from the high elbow to quickly get to the basket. [caption id="attachment_73291" align="alignleft" width="183"] Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink's 2020 Katie Wagner (Maize South) defends Wheat State Elite - Chaos' 2021 Jae'Mya Lyons (Topeka) during their Reign the Plains contest.[/caption] A pair of three pointers, as part of a scoring flurry, from Ruddle and a corner three from Chaos 2020 Kadyn Cobb, from Salina Central, were noteworthy.  But what broke open the game with under six minutes to go was a match up that favored Ryan while Jameson was on the bench.  All game against everyone else but Jameson Ryan was able to create separation on the perimeter for step back three point shots. Jameson also effectively challenged Ryan in the back court one-on-one.  With Jameson out for a rest she quickly nailed a pair of them.  Schomp coming up with a loose ball against three Pink players off a defensive rebound figured big as well. From the floor near the baseline to the right of the basket she was able to get the ball to a teammate that ended with a quick layup. [caption id="attachment_73288" align="alignright" width="256"] Wheat State Elite - Chaos 2020 Emma Ruddle (McPherson) works on the block against Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink's Katie Horyna (Liberal)[/caption] The 64-57 final score was close to the widest margin of the game, a margin that could easily have been reversed with a couple bounces going the other way.  Regardless of who won, fans of Kansas high school basketball can look forward to an upcoming season with major talents driving high level contests. <em>Featured Image: Wheat State Elite - Chaos and Salina Central's 2020 guard Kadyn Cobb keeps tabs in the corner on Ohlde Elite 2020 Pink and Wichita Heights' point guard Taylor Jameson during their Reign the Plains contest.</em> &nbsp; &nbsp;