Hays High opened the postseason with a trip to #9 Salina Central on Thursday evening.  The Indians entered as the #12 seed while the Mustangs the #5 seed.  The two teams met January 25th in Hays which was won by Central 52-39.

The first time the two teams met the Mustangs made five three pointers.  Thursday night was a carbon copy as Central knocked in five threes and took a 19-9 lead.  The game was tied at two a piece over two minutes in.  Central then went on an 8-0 run.  Hays trailed 16-9 following a Cade Swayne basket but the Mustangs made their fifth three of the quarter as time expired for a 19-9 edge.

Hays missed their first five shots of the second quarter as Central went on another 8-0 run to build a 27-9 advantage.  Braiden Meyers and TJ Nunnery made back to back three pointers to close the gap down to 27-15 with the Indians getting the ball back following Mustang turnover.  The Indians though turned it over which led to a three point play for Central and a 30-15 halftime lead over the Indians.

Highlights

 

The Indians could never gained much ground in the second half.  Central used an 11-0 third quarter run to lead by 25 and pushed the lead up to 30 at 53-23.  Central led by 28 entering the fourth quarter then went on a 17-0 run starting the continuous fourth quarter clock finishing with a 70-27 victory.

Coach Rick Keltner

 

Hays finishes the year at 9-12 dropping their final five games.  Central improves to 16-5 and will play in the sub-state championship on Saturday.