The Oakley Plainsmen lost against the Ellis Railroaders back in February of 2023, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. Oakley took a 51-42 hit to the loss column at the hands of Ellis. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Oakley in their matchups with Ellis: they've now lost three in a row.
Oakley's loss came despite strong showings from Jade Beckman and Emma Mandeville. Beckman dropped a double-double on 13 points and ten rebounds, while Mandeville scored 15 points along with six rebounds and five steals. That's the first time this season that Mandeville scored 15 or more points. Karli Krier was another key contributor, scoring six points along with six rebounds and three steals.
Oakley has traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost three of their last four games, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-7 record this season. As for Ellis, their win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-4.
Oakley's road trip will continue as they head out to face Thomas More Prep-Marian on January 20th. Ellis won't have much time to rest: their next game is against Trego at 2:30 p.m. on January 20th. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Kansas (Trego is ranked 113th, while Ellis is ranked 105th).
