The Lady Oilers have a lot to live up to going into the 2019-20 basketball season. They’re coming off a year when they posted a perfect 27-0 record and brought home a 1A state championship title.

(The Lady Oilers have won six consecutive state championships, 111 consecutive games and seven consecutive league titles. Claflin also has set the record for scoring defense (24.5), and this past year set the state record for average margin of victory (49.2 points).

Not to worry.

The Lady Oilers lost only one starter and one reserve from the 2018-19 championship team.

“We have a lot of varsity experience coming back, and have six seniors completing their awesome careers at Central Plains,” said Pat Stiles, who starts his eighth year as head coach.

“It will be key that we don’t get complacent and continue to improve and get better. Success will depend on us maintaining the awesome culture the girls have created by playing hard, playing together, making the extra pass and sharing the ball. We call it the Oiler Way.”

Senior Emily Ryan, a powerhouse on the court since she was a freshman, returns. The 5’9” guard averages 30.6 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 5.6 steals.

She will be joined by fellow seniors Delaney Rugan, 5’7” guard averaging 9.6 points; Rachel Lamatsch, 5’2” guard averaging 6.1 points; and Addison Crites, 5’11” center averaging 6.2 points.

Also on the roster will be five players with significant floor time — Kassidy, sophomore guard; Jennah Jeffrey, junior guard; Lexi Oeser, junior guard; Zoe Potter, senior forward; and Rebecca Stratmann, senior guard. Stratmann was injured last season and is back for her final year as an Oiler.

Claflin opens its season Friday with an away game against Hoisington.