By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

In many ways it was a typical Hays High versus Great Bend game on Friday night. The two Western Athletic Conference rivals battled in the semi-finals of the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout to a 54-50 Hays victory.

Great Bend took an early 3-2 lead but Hays answered with a 8-1 run to lead for the first time by six points at 10-4. That six point margin would be the biggest lead that Hays could secure all night. They led by six on four separate occasions.

With just under 3:00 left in the half Great Bend took their final lead of the game at 17-16. Hays responded with a 7-0 run and took the half time lead at 23-17.

Great Bend got within one point on three separate occasions in the third quarter including back to back three pointers to end the quarter, closing the gap to 33-32.

In the fourth, Hays and Great Bend were tied three times, but each time Hays was able to score and eventually went on a 8-2 run to pull ahead 48-42 with 2:14 remaining and 50-44 with 1:30 left. Hays missed the front end of a pair of one and one opportunities at the free throw line allowing Great Bend the chance to get with in one at 51-50 with four seconds left, but Cash Hobson and Shane Berens connected on 3 of 4 free throws to end the game.

Hays improves to 2-0 on the season. The Indians were led in scoring by Isaiah Nunnery with 15. Brady Werth scored 13. For Great Bend only four players scored but each in double figures. Trey Ibarra and Shade Wondra each had 13. Kody Crosby and Blake Sullivan each added 12.

Hays moves onto the championship game of the Hays City Shootout for the 18th time and will play Olathe North at 7:00 Saturday evening. North beat Garden City 60-58 hitting a pair of free throws with less that a second remaining after leading in by 17 points during the game.