Girls
Hays 48 – Liberal 41
Hays High opened the 2018 portion of their basketball schedule by hosting Liberal on Friday night. For both the Indians and the Redskins the game also marked their first Western Athletic Conference games of the season.
Hays took two early four point leads in the first quarter but could not pull away over a three minute scoring drought. Liberal tied the score at six with two minutes left in the first quarter. The Indians hit a three late in the first quarter and then another three on the first possession of the second quarter to lead 12-6.
The Redskins brought the score back to within one at 14-13 with five and half minutes left in the second quarter. The Hays defense stiffened though and allowed just one more point the rest of the quarter. The Indians did piece together a 7-0 run to take a 21-14 lead at half time.
Highlights
Hays added to their halftime lead on their first touch of the ball of the second half. Isabel Robben scored two of her career and game high 14 points to give the Indians a 23-14 lead. Liberal then went on their best run of the game outscoring the Indians 14-4 over a four plus minute span. Liberal took their first and only lead of the game at 28-27 with 3:15 left in the third quarter. The Indians answered with a three pointer to take the lead back and then broke a 30 all tie at the third quarter buzzer to grab a 32-30 lead.
Hays pushed their lead to 39-34 when Liberal answered with a three and had to chances to tie or take the lead. Robben scored the next five points for Hays to give the Indians a 44-37 advantage. Liberal pulled back within three with just under two minutes left in the game but would not score again. The Indians hit four of their final six free throws for the 48-41 win.
Coach Kirk Maska
Hays moves to 6-1 on the year and 1-0 to start conference play. Liberal falls to 5-1 on the year and 0-1 in the WAC. Hays is ranked #8 in 4A-1. Liberal entered ranked #7 in 5A.
Boys
Hays 74 – Liberal 56
Hays took control of the game from the very beginning scoring the first nine points of the game and pushing their early advantage to 14-2. Liberal pulled back to within single digits just one more time at 16-7 late in the first quarter. The Indians pulled away on a 13-0 run to go up 29-7 early in the second quarter. Hays never let Liberal within 13 rest of the night.
Highlights
The Indians took a 36-19 lead into the locker room at half time and pushed that lead as high as 27 in the second half. The Indians continued to lead by more than twenty until final five minutes of the game when Liberal went on a 16-5 run to get pull within 66-52. Hays took a 74-56 victory closing the game on a 8-4 run.
Kyler Koenke led the Indians with 16. Peyton Kieffer and Tradgon McCrae each scored 14. Cole Murphy hit four three pointers for 12 points. Liberal was led by Tristen Bigham led all scoring with 18.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays improves to 5-2 on the season and 1-0 in the WAC. Liberal is 3-4 and 0-1 in the conference.
The Indians host Great Bend on Tuesday.