DODGE CITY – Whether launching from the perimeter or scoring inside, Arika Feldman’s versatility was on full display Friday in Little River’s Class 1A Division I semifinal.

The 6-foot-2 Fort Hays State signee poured in 28 points to help power the Redskins to a 59-47 win over defending champion Centralia at United Wireless Arena, avenging last year’s title game loss to the Panthers. Little River (26-2) will meet Wabaunsee in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. championship game. 

“I think once I hit a couple shots, just taking any opportunity I can to look to score,” Feldman said. “When I get an open look, I'm going to look to take it, and I was just getting those opportunities early.

“My teammates were getting me open and getting me great shots, so the credit goes to them for getting me those great looks.”

Feldman knocked down three 3-pointers and finished 8 of 17 from the field and 9 of 9 from the foul line. She grabbed eight rebounds and had three blocks. Feldman put up 15 in the first half to help Little River take a 30-25 lead into the break and had nine points in the third frame as the Redskins pushed their advantage to 13. 

“She’s a big-time scorer for us and if she can get some things going early, it kind of helps calm everybody and gets us more comfortable,” Little River coach Cy Rolfs said. “It was great to see some shots go down for her. She just worked really hard to put herself in the position for those moments, and the rest of the team is right there as well.  Everybody was so confident.

“So proud of some of the plays we made down the stretch with some veteran guards and the senior leadership.”

Fouls started to pile up on the Redskins in the third quarter, but Little River didn’t lose its rhythm, putting together a 13-3 run. Centralia fought back to get within five with 3:22 left but could get no closer. 

“We showed toughness and kept an even mindset,” Rolfs said. “Emotion plays into these games a lot, and we talk about that at practice. Their response was huge, making the big plays down the stretch that we needed to, and not just down the stretch. We hit some really big shots at critical times tonight, and I thought our defense was just outstanding. They've hung their hat on that, and really just buckled down and played really well.”

Centralia’s Josie Haverkamp countered Feldman’s big night with a big game of her own, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Malayna Becker scored 10 for the Panthers, who finished 14 of 43 from the field with 16 turnovers. 

Avery Lafferty and Saelyn Raleigh added seven points each for Little River.

It was the third season in a row Centralia and Little River have met in the state tournament. Little River beat the Panthers in the semifinals in 2024 before Centralia won a battle of unbeatens in the state championship game last year. 

“It's never easy,” Rolfs said. “Centralia has great tradition and great athletes, and they've played a lot of good basketball the last few years and beat really good teams. They play great teams night in and night out. It feels really good to come and play like we know we're capable of and get to the next one.”

Little River’s decorated five-player senior class – Feldman, Havana Olander, Evie Look, Adelynne Strecker and Lucy Wright –  will look to add a basketball title to the four straight volleyball state championships the Redskins have captured.  They’ll be playing in their third straight championship after runner-up finishes to Frankfort and Centralia. 

“It's incredible (to play in another title game),” Feldman said.  “It just leaves me speechless. It’s an opportunity not very many people get at all, so to get an opportunity to play one more game is awesome.”

“No matter how many you go to, every one is special,” Rolfs said. “I hope they don't take it for granted and I don't think they do. They have just worked extremely hard and I’m proud of them and happy they get to go out playing in the state championship game.”
 

WABAUNSEE 49, PRETTY PRAIRIE 38 – Wabaunsee’s 1-2 punch of Talen Orton and Grace Zeller combined for 43 points, sending the Chargers to a state championship game for the third time in program history. 

Orton scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Zeller finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 5 steals. They scored all but six of the Chargers’ points, with Edan Perrin accounting for the rest of Wabaunsee’s total. 

“They've been stepping up for us all year, and they're still the focal point of how we want to get the ball inside,” Wabaunsee coach Jared Schultz said of Orton and Zeller. “I thought they did a decent job in transition tonight, too.

“When we rebound, we get out in transition, and we're always looking ahead to hit those two.” 

Both teams made their runs. Wabaunsee opened up a 37-21 lead in the third quarter, but Pretty Prairie countered with an 11-0 run to get within five. 

Wabaunsee (25-3) maintained a cushion throughout the fourth quarter with Zeller scoring eight of the Chargers’ 12 points in the frame. 

Schultz said the Chargers reached their goal of attempting 20 free throws, knocking down 13.

“It went in the right column, which is the only thing that matters this time of year is getting a win,” Schultz said. “We have to shore some things up because we're going up against the best team in 1A until somebody beats them. We're not going to back down from the challenge. We're happy to be playing for first.”

Wabaunsee will be aiming for its first state championship. The Chargers were runners-up in 1986 and 2017. 

They’ll look to slow down a Little River squad looking to break through for a title after two straight runner-up finishes. 

“The Feldman girl is just amazing, and she's got five, six really good players around her,” Schultz said.  “Teams that are dominated by seniors, like Little River is, they've paid their dues. We are the underdog, but there's no pressure. We got to build on what we did tonight and go out (Saturday night) and let the chips fall where they may.”

Brennan Schrag led a balanced attack for Pretty Prairie (23-3) with 12 points. The Bulldogs will face Centralia in the third-place game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. CLASS 1A DIVISION I GIRLS SEMIFINALS BOXSCORES 

LITTLE RIVER 59, CENTRALIA 47 

Centralia … 14 … 11 … 10 … 12 … – … 47
Little River … 17 … 13 … 18 … 11 … – … 59

Centralia (23-4) – Kramer 1-11 3-5 5, Becker 1-4 8-8 10, Thompson 1-2 0-0 2, K. Rempe 0-1 1-2 1, Gibbs 2-6 0-0 4, Niehues 0-0 0-0 0, Tanking 0-0 0-0 0, Haverkamp 9-19 6-10 25. Totals 14-43 18-27 47.

Little River (26-2) – Strecker 2-4 2-2 6, Raleigh 2-5 1-2 7, A. Lafferty 3-4 1-2 7, Olander 2-8 2-4 6, Feldman 8-17 9-9 28, D. Lafferty 1-4 1-2 3, Look 1-5 0-0 2, Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-47 16-21 59.

3-point goals — Centralia 1-10 (Haverkamp 1-5, Kramer 0-4, K. Rempe 0-1). Little River: 5-16 (Feldman 3-9, Raleigh 2-3, Strecker 0-1, Olander 0-1, Look 0-2). Rebounds — Centralia 32 (Haverkamp 11). Little River 29 (Feldman 8). Assists — Centralia: 6 (Kramer 3). Little River: 12 (Strecker 4, Raleigh 4). Turnovers — Centralia 16. Little River 12. Total fouls — Centralia 19, Little River 18. Fouled out — None.

WABAUNSEE 49, PRETTY PRAIRIE 38

Wabaunsee … 13 … 8 … 16 … 12 … – … 49
Pretty Prairie … 12 … 7 … 10 … 9 … – … 38

Wabaunsee (25-3) – Zeller 7-16 6-6 20, R. Michaelis 0-3 0-0 0, K. Michaelis 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Orton 8-15 7-12 23, Perrin 3-8 0-0 6. Totals 18-43 13-20 49.

Pretty Prairie (23-3)  – White 1-2 0-0 2, Detter 0-4 2-2 2, Goering 4-10 0-0 8, Vogl 4-8 0-2 8, A. White 3-10 0-0 6, Schrag 4-9 2-2 12, Ford 0-0 0-0 0, Weide 0-0 0-0 0, H. Yoder 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-44 4-6 38.

3-point goals – Pretty Prairie 2-10 (Schrag 2-2; Detter 0-1, Goering 0-4, Vogl 0-1, A. White 0-1, H. Yoder 0-1); Wabaunsee 0-3 (Zeller 0-1, R. Michaelis 0-2).
Rebounds – Wabaunsee 30 (Orton 12); Pretty Prairie 28 (Vogl 9). Assists – Wabaunsee 14 (R. Michaelis 4, Miller 4); Pretty Prairie 13 (Schrag 3). Turnovers – Wabaunsee 12, Pretty Prairie 19. Total fouls – Wabaunsee 7, Pretty Prairie 14. Fouled out – None.