The Hays High Indians finished the regular season off with Abilene on Friday night on Senior Night. It was the second meeting of the season between the two teams with the Cowgirls and Cowboys each picking up wins in the first contest. Like the games on Thursday night, Friday’s results did not have an impact on the sub-state standings.
Girls
#4-4A Abilene 52 – Hays 40
Hays and Abilene traded the lead three times in the first quarter with neither team building a two possession lead. Abilene led 11-10 heading into the second quarter before the Indians tied the game for a third time at 14. Hays however never could take the lead in the second quarter. Trailing 20-18 the Indians went scoreless on back to back possession. Abilene built the lead to five in with a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the first half to lead 24-19.
Highlights
Abilene led the second half and pushed their advantage as high as 13 in the third quarter. The Indians closed the gap back to nine in entering the fourth quarter but trailed again by ten with six minutes remaining. Hays once again chipped away at the lead and trailed 44-40 with 2:38 left. Abilene left the door open for Hays with a turnover, missed shot and two missed free throws, but Hays couldn’t walk through. The Indians missed two shots and turned it over twice during the next ninety seconds. Abilene made all eight of their free throws in the final 1:08 to win 52-40.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Jaycee Dale led the Indians with 14 and Brooke Denning scored 10. Hays finishes the regular season at 13-7 while Abilene improves to 18-2. The Indians will play at home next Wednesday against Kapaun to open postseason play.
Boys
#6-4A Abilene 51 – Hays 43
The score was more like a baseball game through the first six minutes of the contest. Trailing 6-5 Hays finally found some rhythm on offense. Hays scored the final six points of the quarter to lead 11-6. Abilene led 15-14 before Trey Adams dumped to field goals and TJ Nunnery drained a right corner three for a 21-15 lead. The Indians thought did score for the final 2:15 of the half and Abilene answered with eight straight points for a 23-21 lead at the halftime.
Highlights
Hays led just once in the second half. The Indians trailed by four when Nunnery hit another basket and Braiden Meyers nailed a left corner three off a behind the back pass from Tradgon McCrae. The three pointer gave the Indians what proved to be their last lead of the game at 26-25. Abilene quickly took the lead back and started on a 7-0 run. The Cowboys led by seven entering the fourth quarter and by nine early in the fourth quarter. Hays could only close the gap back down to six with 1:40 remaining and then again with :46 left. Abilene made seven of their nine fourth quarter free throws to win 51-43.
Coach Rick Keltner
TJ Nunnery scored a game high 15 to the lead the Indians who have dropped four straight and finish the regular season 9-11. Abilene ends the season at 17-3. Hays will be on the road Thursday to play Salina Central to open post season play.