By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
Hays 48 – Salina Central 46
The Hays High Indians new they would be in for a fight with Salina Central in the first round of the state tournament on Wednesday night. The finish would turn out just like their first meeting on February 11th.
Just as in the first meeting, Salina Central jumped out to an early lead using a barrage of three pointers to grab a 9-6 advantage. Hays scored the next seven points to go up 13-9, a lead the Indians would hold over the Mustangs through the first half. Central did tie the game at 13 with their first basket of the second quarter, but the Indians responded with an 11-2 run capped by a Jordan Windholz three, his third of the first half. The nine point advantage at 24-15 would prove to the the Indians biggest lead of the game. Central scored five straight to get with in four when Clayton Riedel hit a jumper with three second remaining before half for the 26-20 lead heading into the locker rooms.
Salina Central opened the second half on their biggest run of the game scoring seven straight, going up 27-26. Hays scored just eight, third quarter points. Three of those points came as the third quarter expired when Kyler Niernberger first three pointer of the season.
Trailing 35-34 into the fourth quarter, the Indians fell behind by as many as six on three different occasions. The last of which came at 46-40 with under 3:30 remaining in the game. Hays would yield no more points as Windholz sandwiched two more threes around a Mustang turnover to tie the game at 46 with 1:50 remaining. Central intended to run down the final 1:50 and take a potential game winning shot. Isaiah Nunnery though never let the Mustangs settle in and his defensive pressure allowed Lane Clark to steal the ball from behind a Central player. Clark was fouled on the steal with 18.2 seconds remaining. Clark calmly stepped to the free throw line and knocked down both ends of a one and one, giving Hays a 48-46 lead. Then it was time for the defense to shine once more. Central took the clock down to 4.9 seconds before calling a time out, and the Indians defensive pressure forced a three pointer from six feet beyond the arc that fell harmlessly away for the Hays High victory.
Windholz, was the only Indians in double figures, leading all scoring with 16 on five three pointers and one of two from the free throw line.
Hays shot 43% from the field and made 7 of 17 3’s. Salina Central shot 71% in the second half and 18 of 38 in the game for 47%. The Mustangs were 8 of 16 beyond the arc.
Hays moves on to the semi-finals were they will face off against 22-1 Topeka Highland Park. Tip off is scheduled for 8:15.
Rest of the 5A tournament and schedule:
#1 Lansing 68 – #8 St. Thomas Aquinas 57
#5 Wichita Heights (19-4) 72 – #4 Goddard Eisenhower (21-2) 56
#3 Topeka Highland Park (22-1) 73 – #4 Kansas City Washington (17-6) 47
Friday Semi-finals will feature Lansing v Wichita Heights at 4:45pm and Hays v Topeka Highland Park at 8:15pm