Hays Wins at Sub-State; Keltner with 400 Wins

By Dustin Armbruster
Hays 60 – Buhler 53

The Hays Indians were in a new classification for the first time in basketball, dropping to Class 4A-1. The goal in substate is the same however. Win two games and advance to the state tournament.

Hays hit their first three shots of the game and took and 8-4 lead with 4:55 to go in the first quarter. Buhler would respond with a 10-3 run to lead 14-11. Buhler would use back to back threes to push their lead up to five at 20-15 and lead after the first quarter 22-17.

The two teams traded threes to open the second quarter, leaving Hays trailing 25-20. The Indians would then go on a 11-4 run keyed by a Cash Hobson three and then steal and lay up. Hays tied the game at 29 on a Drew Young lay up, then with two second remaining in the half Shane Berens hit two free throws to put the Indians us 31-29 at half.

Highlights

The Indians started the second half with back to back Keith Dryden layup off of Buhler missed three pointers to go up 35-29. Hays had the lead trimmed down to thee at 37-34, then responded with an 8-3 run that was capped by a Shane Berens offensive rebound and layup at the buzzer to put the Indians up 45-37 after three quarters.

Hays would never trail in the fourth quarter, but Buhler didn’t make it easy on the Indians. Buhler got within four at 50-46 with 2:42 remaining. On the following play Brady Werth converted a traditional three point play with a dunk and free throw to put Hays back up 53-46. Berens made his second three of the game after two Buhler free throws to put the Crusaders away. Hays went on for the 60-53 win.

Shane Berens led the Indians with a career high 22. Brady Werth scored 12. Cash Hobson added 10 in his third consecutive double figure game.

Coach Rick Keltner

Buhler got 17 from Tanner Lackey including five three pointers and 15 from Noah Webster.

Hays improves to 14-7 on the year and Buhler drops to 12-9. The Indians will play undefeated and #1 McPherson Saturday at 7:30.

The win was also was number 400 for coach Rick Keltner at Hays High School in his 30th year.