Manhattan ? The state basketball tournament draw was not friendly for a Bishop Seabury basketball team making its first trip to the final eight since 2012. The Seahawks, who entered their first state tournament game in four years with a school-record 18-3 mark, drew undefeated Central Plains, which proved why it is now 24-0 and in the semifinals of the Class 2A bracket.

Using an overwhelming advantage at the free-throw line and hitting almost every other shot they attempted in Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum, the second-seeded, senior-laden Oilers defeated a young Seabury team, 77-56, Thursday night.

For Seabury, which features just one senior who plays significant minutes, it was a difficult way to end a season, in which its previous three losses this year were by two, nine and one point. Cold stretches on offense and constant fouling on defense helped this game get out of hand early.

“I think a lot of people sold us short going in, and I think we did, too,” Seahawk senior Thomas Uhler said. “It was all of our first time at state with the lights and everything. It didn’t scare us, but it was definitely a different feel.”

Central Plains got Seabury out of its zone defense late in the first quarter by drilling three three-pointers, while also working inside for four easy buckets to post a 19-9 lead after one period.

Seabury’s switch to a man-to-man defense did nothing to slow down the Oilers, as the Seahawks were whistled for 14 fouls in the first half. Central Plains took advantage of Seabury’s defensive issues and drained 20 of 22 free throws in the first 16 minutes. In fact, 20 of Central Plains’ 24 second-quarter points came at the free-throw line as it built a 43-23 halftime advantage behind a 17-3 run late in the period.

“They are a hard team to guard because they are so deliberate and patient, and I guess they are masters at getting people in foul trouble,” Seabury coach Ashley Battles said. “We talk about being a half step faster on defense, and as slow and deliberate as they are, somehow they find a way to keep you a half step slow. They are one of the best-coached teams I have ever seen.”

For the night, Central Plains made 32 of 38 free throws. The Oilers also made 21 of 31 shots from the floor, including 18 of 22 from inside the three-point line. Seabury shot just 43.5 percent for the game and made just seven of 18 free throws.

Mikey Wycoff led Seabury with 21 points, while Bansi King added 11. Central Plains was led by Michael Ryan, who hit 13 of 15 free throws en route to 24 points, and Jacob Warnken, who had 20 points, including eight of 10 free throws.

Uhler closed out his career with a game-high six rebounds. He said qualifying for state was his goal, but explained his team should have reached higher.

“This was our goal going in, and that is my fault,” he said. “I got everybody together at the end of last year and said, ‘Next year, we are going to go to state.’ I sold us short. I should have known from the beginning we could do this, and we accomplished my start-of-the-season goal, but I know we could have done more.”

SEABURY (56)

Mikey Wycoff 7-17 3-8 21, Zachary McDermott 3-8, 1-6 7, Thomas Uhler 1-4 2-4 4, Bansi King 4-8 0-0 11, Austin Gaumer 0-1 0-0 0, Austin Dominquez 1-1 0-0 3, Carter Claxton 0-0 0-2 0, Thomas diZerega 2-4 0-0 4, Maxwell Easter 1-2 0-0 3, Christopher Green 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas Silvestri 1-1 0-1 3, Totals 20-46 7-18 56.

CLAFLIN CENTRAL PLAINS (77)

Braeden Crites 4-5 4-4 12, Devin Ryan 1-5 2-2 4, Jacob Warnken 5-6 8-10 20, Brady Rugan 0-1 1-2 1, Michael Ryan 5-6 13-15 24, Bryce Miller 1-1 0-0 2, Trustin Kreft 1-2 0-0 2, C Schlochtermeier 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Barton 4-4 4-5 12, Alex Hickel 0-1 0-0 0, Brett Liebl 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Lewis 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 21-31 32-38 77.

Seabury 9 14 13 20 — 56

Central Plains 19 24 19 15 — 77

Three-Point Goals: BS 9-24 (Wycoff 3, King 3, Dominguez, Easter, Silvestri), CCP 3-9 (Warnken 2, Ryan 1). Rebounds: BS 20 (Uhler 6), CCP 33 (Crites 5), Assists: BS 1 (Wycoff), CCP: 4 (four with one), Blocks: BS 2 (Wycoff, Silvestri), CCP: 0, Steals: BS 6 (Wycoff 2), CCP: 3 (Ryan 2), Turnovers: BS 8, CCP 17. Fouled Out: BS McDermott, King, CCP Crites.