Hays High visited Dodge City on Thursday night. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was rescheduled due to winter weather. Both this game in Dodge City and Friday Night’s game versus Abilene counted towards sub-state tournament records.
The Hays girls will host Kapaun next Wednesday to open up postseason while the boys will be on the road to Salina Central next Thursday.
Both teams will finish the regular season with senior night against Abilene tomorrow night.
Girls
Hays 56 – Dodge City 49
A 7-0 run during first quarter put Dodge City in front 9-4 as the Indians made just two of their first ten shots. Hays trailed much of the first half and nearly the entire second quarter. However, the Indians stayed in the game despite shooting just 29% in the first half. Hays tied the game four different times before taking the lead on an Isabel Robben layup with five seconds left in the second quarter. The basket gave the Indians a 26-24 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Hays trailed just once in the second half. Leading by five in the early stages of the third quarter Hays saw Dodge City go on a 8-2 run to regain the lead at 32-31. Hays though answered right back on a 7-0 run to grab the lead for good in the third quarter. Though the Indians did not trail again, doesn’t mean things were easy. Hays led by six early in the fourth quarter before the Red Demons scored six straight points to tie the game at 41 with 5:15 left in the game. Hays scored the next ten points of the game with the help of full court pressure that forced four straight turnovers. The ten point lead and free throw shooting provided enough cushion to win 56-49.
Coach Alex Hutchins
The Indians finish second in the Western Athletic Conference at 6-2 and move to 13-6 overall. Savannah Schneider scores a team high 16 in the victory.
Boys
Dodge City 41 – Hays 37
Hays never trailed in the first half against Dodge City. Following game opening three pointers from each team, the Indians went on a 9-0 run to build their largest first half lead of 12-3. The Indians scored just eight points in the remaining ten minutes of the half. The Hays defense though kept Dodge City from doing much on their end of the offense. A 14-5 run tied the game for the Red Demons but it took 6:20 to do so. Hays outscored Dodge City 3-2 in the final ninety seconds of the half for a 20-19 halftime lead.
Highlights
Dodge City took their first lead of the second half after scoring first in the third quarter. Trailing 21-20 and 23-22 the Indians established a lead once again and lead 29-28 heading to the fourth quarter. Hays opened the fourth quarter with a Braiden Meyers three pointer and a three point play from Tradgon McCrae to build a seven point lead at 35-28.
The Indians would only score one more basket the rest of the game. The field goal with 4:10 left lifted Hays to a 37-33 advantage. Dodge City didn’t have much offense to close out the game but it was just enough. The Red Demons took the lead at 39-37 on their third three pointer of the quarter and seventh of the game. Hays still stood a chance in the final minute as Dodge City made just two of four free throws but the Indians couldn’t get a shot to go through the rim losing 41-37.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays falls to 9-10 and finishes 4-4 in the WAC. Dodge City finishes the year at 11-9 and 4-4. Tradgon McCrae led the team with 16 points. The Indians will be at home on Friday for Senior Night against Abilene.