The Hays High Indian basketball teams split in Day 1 of the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout versus Riley County on Thursday.

The Lady Indians inexperience showed trailing early 11-0 to the state ranked Falcons.  Mattison Schlaefli scored the first points for Hays with 3:20 left in the first quarter.  Riley County led 16-2 after one quarter and pushed the lead to 34-8 by halftime.  Riley County’s Madison Vargo led the game with 15 points on five three point field goals.  Makayla Vargo scored 11.  Hays was led by Schlaefli who scored nine points including 7-12 from the free throw line.  Hays was held to just 6 of 27 shooting but made 16 of 26 free throws.  Riley County shot just 38% 20-53, making 9 of 25 3’s.  Hays drops to 0-1 and will play state ranked DeSoto in the consolation semi-finals at 6:30 at Hays Middle School.

The Hays High Indians entered the game with experience, depth, and talent and all of that was on showcase Thursday night.  Hays raced out to a 9-0 lead before Riley County countered with a three.  Hays then reeled off a 22-2 run taking a 31-5 lead and headed into the halftime locker room with a 46-11 lead.  Behind 47% shooting the Indians won 79-37.  Hays shot 32 for 68 and made 5 of 19 threes.  Riley County shot just 12 of 37 and made 5 of 11 beyond the arc.  Hays also held a huge rebound margin at 43-22.  The Indians also turned the ball over just seven times, the first of which came with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter.  In all 15 Indians played and 13 scored, led by Jordan Windholz and Brady Werth each scoring 13.  Hays moves to 1-0 and will play Newton in the championship semi-finals at 8:15 Friday night.