It was a flashback Friday in Garden City for Hays High as they played their Western Athletic Conference games with the Buffaloes in “The Garden” at the old high school. The games had been moved from Garden City High School to Horace Good Middle School because of the Garden City hosting a KSHSAA 6A Regional Wrestling Tournament.
Girls
#10-5A Hays 46 – Garden City 35
Garden City led the entire first quarter as they scored the first three points of the game. Tied at nine a piece in Hays could not take the lead on two possessions and trailed after one quarter 14-11. The Indians trailed 16-15 and misfired on the next seven possessions, but the defensive effort remained constant for Hays as they trailed just 18-15 with 2:00 to go in half. Hays scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 22-18 lead by halftime on their first lead of the game.
Highlights
Both teams struggled to score starting the third quarter. Tied at 22 points a piece, Hays finished the third quarter on a 9-2 run capped by a Brooke Denning three pointer for a 31-24 lead heading to the fourth quarter. The Indians’ lead never dropped below two possessions in the fourth quarter. The Hays defense kept Garden City from scoring back to back field goals the entire quarter on their way to a 46-35 victory.
Hays grabbed a season high 46 rebounds as Garden City made their first three pointer then missed the next 20 attempts.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Brooke Denning lead the team with 16 points to tie a season high. The Indians are 12-6 on the year and sit alone in second place in the conference standings at 5-2. Garden City falls to 11-8 and 3-4.
Boys
Garden City 55 – Hays 49
Garden City was trying to claim the WAC crown against Hays on Friday night with a victory securing the outright title. Hays won the 2018 crown as Garden City finished second. Garden City entered the Friday night contest with a one game lead of the Indians.
Garden City made their first six three pointers and eight of ten first quarter shots to lead 22-13. Hays trailed by as many as 12 in the first quarter before Tradgon McCrae hit a three pointer to end the first quarter. That shot was the start to a 9-0 run that brought the Indians back within three at 22-19. Garden City didn’t score for the first 3:20 of the second quarter but once they did, the Buffaloes went on a 12-3 run to reclaim a 12 point lead. The Indians scored the final five points of the half with Jason Krannwitter hitting a right corner three closing the halftime deficit down to 34-27.
Highlights
Hays scored just one field goal and four free throws in the third quarter as Garden City grabbed a pair of 13 point leads and led 46-33 entering the fourth. The Indians cut the Garden City advantage down to six midway through the fourth quarter after holding the Buffaloes scoreless for over three minutes. Garden City went back up by ten with 2:05 left, but left the door open for Hays scoring just a single point for the remainder of the game. The Indians had made five consecutive field goals but had the next five shots hit the rim but refused to go in. A three pointer from thirty plus feet at the buzzer by McCrae brought the final score to 55-49 in favor of Garden City.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays falls to 9-9 on the year and 4-3 in the WAC. McCrae scored 14 points and Cade Swayne adds 12. Garden City is the Western Athletic Conference champions moving to 6-1 in league play and 15-4 overall.
Hays heads back out on the road Tuesday as they travel to Dodge City to finish conference action.