By Dustin Armbruster
The Hays High Indians took their first road test in swing on Thursday night as both the boys and girls win.
Girls
Hays 39 – Colby 35
For the second time this season, the Hays High High Lady Indians beat Colby by four points. Hays previously beat Colby in the consolation semi-finals of the Hays City Shootout. Thursday night, Hays held a 6-5 lead after the first quarter and led 14-10 with just a minute to go until half time. That is when Brenly Terrell hit her third and fourth three pointer of the first half to give Colby a 16-14 lead at half time.
Colby opened up their biggest lead of the game at 23-19 midway through the third quarter, but Hays closed the quarter on a 10-0 run and then added a free throw to start the fourth quarter to take a 30-23 lead. Colby though fought back to force tie scores at 32 and 34. The Lady Eagles took their last lead of the game with a free throw at the 2:26 mark. Hays scored the games last five points off of the game capped with two Summer Smith free throws with thirteen seconds left to secure the win.
Hays was led in scoring by Haley George who was in the double figures for the first time in her career, scoring 10. Hays shot 38% from the field while improving to 2-3 on the year. Colby shot just 29% and committed 33 turnovers and fell to 0-4.
Boys
Hays 79 – Colby 27
It could have been a trap game for Hays. The 3rd ranked team in class 4A-1, playing their fifth game in eight days, went on the road for the first time to take a win less Colby squad that hadn’t played since Saturday. The game was close for the first two minutes as Hays held a 5-4 lead. Hays though found a rhythm on offense and clamped down on defense, using a 16-2 run to grab a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. In that first quarter Keith Dryden scored nine on two three pointers and a three point play. Brady Werth scored five in the first, including an emphatic dunk in which he was fouled and hit the free throw.
The Indians would runs of 10-3, 13-1, 12-0 and 10-0 in taking a fifty point lead to the fourth quarter at 68-18. The fourth quarter was continuous clock and Hays walked away with a 79-27 victory.
Hays shot 55% from the field and made 6 of 18 threes. The Indians free throw shooting continued to signs of improvement, making 13 of 15 on Thursday night. Colby made just 21% of their shots, 1 of 11 three pointers and 6 of 9 free throws. Colby also committed 28 turnovers to the Indian’s 12.
Dryden led the way for Hays scoring a career high 26, coming off his 22 versus Pratt on Tuesday. Werth collected his 10 career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Nunnery scored 11 in the victory.
Hays improves to 4-1 on the year. Colby drops to 0-3.
The Indians are back at home on Tuesday to play Junction City.