By Dustin Armbruster
Hays High returned to action on Tuesday night versus Junction City after a one week layoff, their longest stretch without a game since games started December 1st.
Girls
Hays 63 – Junction City 56
On the coldest week of December, the Hays High Lady Indians were also cold from the field making just two of their first ten shots. Junction City hit five of their first ten shots, including three three-pointers to take a six point lead on two different occasions. Hays did take a first quarter lead following a 8-1 run but trailed after the first quarter 18-16.
The Indians came to life in the second quarter scoring the first five points to take a 21-18 lead and never look back. The Indians used a 13-0 run mid-way through the quarter to build a 15 point lead and led 43-27 by halftime.
Highlights
Junction City returned to the first quarter form opening the third quarter on a 15-2 run to get back within three at 45-42. The Indians were able to build their lead back to five by the end of the third quarter 49-44. Hays led by nine twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 57-48. Junction City went on an 8-3 run to get the game back to three points at 59-56 with 1:01 remaining. Hays hit four of their six final free throws to hold on for the 63-56 win.
Coach Kirk Maska
Talyn Kleweno led all scoring with a career high 18. Savannah Schneider and Jaycee Dale each scored 13. Junction City put three in double figures, led by the 14 of Ally McKenzie. Hays moves to 4-1 on the season and is done until January, 6th on the girls side when they travel to Liberal. Junction City drops to 1-3.
Boys
Hays 62 – Junction City 52
Both Hays and Junction City came out of the gates firing away to the tune of a 19-17 Blue Jay lead after the first quarter. Each team hit three shots from beyond the three point arc and neither team led by more than four in the first eight minutes. Hays opened up the game in the second quarter with a 13-0 run to go from trailing by two to leading 32-21. Hays led 35-27 at halftime using 6 of 8 three point shooting to sustain the lead. In the first half the game was tied four times and there were four more lead changes.
Highlights
Hays saw their lead cut down to one at 35-34 following seven straight points by Junction City to start the second half. Hays answered right back with seven of their own points and eventually pushed their lead up to 45-36 following the third quarter. Hays again pushed their lead to double figures going up 50-38 with 6:30 remaining in the game, but the Blue Jays came back with eight straight points cutting the lead down to 50-46 with less than three minutes remaining. Junction City would get no closer though as Hays High closed the game on a 12-6 run, hitting 8 of 9 free throws in the last 1:35.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays moves to 5-0 on the season and travels to Colby on Friday. Tradgon McCrae scored a career high 17, ten coming in the fourth quarter, and was 8-10 from the free throw line. Shane Berens and Tyrese Hill each added 11 and Claiborne Kyles scored 10. Junction City was led by Lonnie Autry with 17, including five three pointers. Junction City falls to 2-2.