By Dustin Armbruster
Girls
Liberal 47 – Hays 31
Hot shooting in the first quarter gave Liberal a 16-11 lead after the first eight minutes, as Hays couldn’t recover in a 47-31 loss. Hays was outscored in each of the four quarters in the loss, but had chances to close the gap on the Redskins. However, Hays went just 5-18 from the free throw line in the 16 point loss. Audra Schmeidler led the Indians with nine points. Hays falls to 3-4 on the season and 0-1 in Western Athletic Conference play. Liberal improves to 2-5 and 1-0.
Trailing 26-19 at half time, the Indians Talyn Kleweno made a three pointer to open up the second half to get with in four. That would be the closest Hays would be rest of the night. Hays shot just 29 times making 12. Liberal shot 55 times making 15. Liberal also made 12 of 16 free throws.
Boys
Hays 58 – Liberal 49
It took a little bit for Hays to shake the rust off in their first game of 2015. It took 2:53 to score their first points on Liberal, who by then had built a 9-0 lead. Liberal expanded that lead to 10 at 12-2 just over 3:00 into the game. Hays then started to find the range, using a 21-6 run to build a five point lead at 23-18. The lead never grew to more than two points for either team over the final 5:00 of the first half. Liberal hit a three pointer as the first half expired to take a 30-29 lead into the locker room.
The lead swapped back and fourth four times when Liberal took a 36-35 lead midway through the third quarter. It was the Redskins last lead. Hays went on an 11-0 run to close the third quarter with 46-36 lead. Hays pushed the lead as high as 13 in the fourth quarter, ending with a 58-49 win.
Isaiah Nunnery scored a game high 18. Brady Werth scored 17 and grabbed 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Keith Dryden scored 13 in the victory.
Hays shot 52% from the field making 23 of 44 shots and 8 of 11 on free throws. Liberal was just 18 of 58 and 7 for 11 on free throws.
Hays improves to 6-1 on the year and 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. Liberal falls to 5-2 and 0-1.
The Indians are on the road to Tuesday to play Great Bend.