Girls
#6 5A Salina Central 60 – #6 #4A-1 Hays 55
After an 11 day layoff, the Hays High Lady Indians took the court at home Tuesday night versus Salina Central. The Lady Mustangs were coming off of three games in three days and a runner up finish on Saturday to Liberal in the Salina Invitational Tournament. Both teams entered ranked. Hays at #6 in 4A-1 and Salina Central at #6 in 5A.
Like two state ranked teams should, each team took big swings in the first half. The Lady Indians used a 11-3 run that built a 11-7 lead mid way through the first quarter. Central responded with a 9-3 run that closed the first quarter and enabled the Lady Mustangs to grab a 16-14 lead.
At one point Hays missed 12 straight shots and Central took advantage to build their biggest lead of the first half at 29-22. Over the final two minutes though the Lady Indians defense didn’t allow another point and baskets from Tasiah Nunnery, Jaycee Dale and Savannah Schneider tied the game at 29 as the teams hit locker room.
Highlights
Hays and Central were tied four more times in the third quarter and the lead changed hands twice with the Lady Mustangs taking a 43-41 lead into the fourth quarter. The Hays High Lady took what turned out to be their final lead of the night on five straight points from Nunnery, grabbing a 46-45 lead.
The deciding run came over the next 90 seconds. Central scored three quick baskets including two three pointers putting the Lady Mustangs up 53-46. Hays never got closer than five rest of the way. The Lady Indian’s best chance came down 56-51, where they had three consecutive possessions but could not score. Central held on for a 60-55 win over Hays.
Coach Haley Wolf
Hays falls 8-2 on the season. Salina Central is now 10-3. Savannah Schneider led all scoring with 21. Tasiah Nunnery scored 10 for a third consecutive game. The Lady Indians are headed to the McPherson Mid-America Classic on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Hays opens with 5-5 Wichita Northwest.
Boys
#9 5A Salina Central 62 – Hays 48
With both Hays and Salina Central coming off of mid-season tournaments, they showed little fatigue in the first quarter. The teams traded baskets through the first quarter with Hays taking a 15-14 lead after eight minutes. The second quarter was trouble for a third straight game for the Indians. Hays made just two field goals while Salina Central finished the half on a 12-2 run. The run came as Hays closed a six point gap down to one at 21-20. The run allowed the Mustangs to take a 33-22 lead at half time.
Highlights
Central turned the 12-2 run at the end of the third quarter into a 22-2 run that built the Mustangs a 21 points lead at 43-22. Hays scored just two points over a 7:20 span that help lead to the 21 point deficit. Hays did find a spark in the third quarter. Hays went on a 13-5 run over four minutes to get back within 13 at 48-35. The Indians has the ball at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth but missed shots on both possessions. Salina Central kept the Indians at arms length rest of the night for a 62-48 victory.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays falls in a third straight game, all to ranked opponents and is 8-5 on the season. Salina Central is now 10-3. Tradgon McCrae led the Indians with 13. Cole Murphy added 12. The Hays boys are off for a week when they resume play against Salina South.