Both state ranked Hays High basketball teams headed to Junction City on Tuesday night for their final road game before Christmas break. The Lady Indians entered the game at #9 in 4A-DI for the 3rd consecutive week. The boys became ranked for the first time this season at #10.
Girls
Hays 70 – Junction City 38
Hays High and Junction City traded baskets for the first two minutes leading to a five all tie. The Lady Indians then held the Blue Jays scoreless for six minutes during with Hays went on a 16-0 run. The 21-5 lead marked their biggest lead of the first quarter. Hays led 21-7 after one quarter and extended that lead to 41-17 by half time.
Hays 29-15 at the midway point of the second quarter. The Lady Indians then went on a 12-2 run to close out the first half, outscoring Junction City 20-10 in the second quarter. Hays hit five of seven first half three point attempts.
Highlights
Tasiah Nunnery scored in double figures for the first time in her Lady Indian career with 10 points in the first half. She continued her career night with eight more points in the third quarter. She ended the game with 18 points which included four three pointers. Hays took a 31 point lead on their first shot of the fourth quarter to start the continuous clock, sending Hays on to a 70-38 victory.
Coach Kirk Maska
Brooke Denning added 13 points and Jaycee Dale scored 10 to compliment Nunnery’s 18. The Indians shot 61% from the field and made seven on nine three point attempts.
The Lady Indians are now 4-1 on the year. Junction City drops to 1-3.
Boys
Junction City 75 – Hays 71
Hays led much of the first half in Junction City leading 12-5 after the first four minutes of the game. The Blue Jays closed the gap down to two points before the Indians scored back to back field goals to end the first quarter with a 17-10 lead.
The Indians built their lead to a first half high of ten at 26-16 just over two minutes into the second quarter. Junction City responded with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to get within two at 26-24. Hays increased their lead to six three more times in the second quarter but didn’t score over the 1:50. Junction City ended the half on a 8-0 run, hitting a three pointer at the buzzer for a 36-34 lead. It was the first lead for Junction City in the half.
Highlights
Hays took the lead back on a three pointer at 37-36. It would be the last time the Indians would lead. Junction City took the largest lead of the game at 52-41 following a 16-4 run. Hays chipped away at the lead getting within four by the end of the third quarter 57-53.
Hays trailed by as many as eight in the fourth quarter but found a way to tie with 1:15 left following a Cole Murphy three pointer. With the score tied at 70 the Indians gave up a three pointer and two free throws. Hays made just one of four three throws and missed their only two point field goal try, leaving Junction City with 75-71 victory.
Coach Rick Keltner
Ethan Nunnery scored a game and career high 30. Cole Murphy scored 18 and Kyler Koenke added 10. Junction City put four in double figures, led by the 28 of A.J. Dickerson. Both teams shot over 50% from the field. Hays was 9 of 19 on free throws and Junction City finished 7 of 13, knocking down the game sealing two with ten seconds left.
Hays falls to 3-2 and will play Colby at home on Friday for their final game before Christmas break. Junction City is now 3-1 with all three wins coming against Western Athletic Conference opponents.