By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
Hays High completed the 2015 portion of their basketball season on Tuesday night traveling to Junction City, for their sixth game before Christmas break.
Hays 53 – Junction City 42
The Lady Indians scored off the opening tip and jumped out to a 4-0 lead, holding Junction City scoreless over the first two and half minutes. When Junction City did score they hit on three consecutive shots and took a 7-4 lead over the course of forty-five seconds. Hays would respond back with a 9-0 run to take the first of three six point leads in the first half. Hays took two more six points leads in the second half, but Junction City trimmed the lead down to one at 20-19 with 3:25 remaining in the second quarter. Neither team would score for the remainder of the first half.
Highlights
Junction City did tie the game once in the second half at 24 all mid way through the third quarter but Hays never relinquished the lead. The Indians built a seven point lead into the final minute of the third quarter only to see Junction City trim the lead down to one less than a minute into the fourth. Leading by three at 40-37, Hays went on a 13-2 run to put the game out of reach, claiming a 53-42 win.
Coach Kirk Maska
Hays was led by Audra Schmeidler with 15 and Mattie Hutchison with 14. The Lady Indians are 3-3 on the year. Junction City is 0-4 and was led by A’kia Fain with 14.
Hays 55 – Junction City 50
Hays hit five first quarter three pointers but trailed after one quarter to Junction City 18-17. The Blue Jays Ricardo Evans scored 12 in the first quarter only to be matched by the 12 of Isaiah Nunnery. Nunnery scored all of his points on four three pointers. Junction City opened the second quarter on a 11-3 run creating a nine point separation at 29-20. Hays cut the lead down to five once only to trail by seven at half time 34-27.
Highlights
Junction City hit the first basket of the second half to build their lead to nine one final time at 36-27. Hays scored the next seven points to get within two at 36-34, then once again made it a two point game at the end of the third quarter 41-39. Hays opened fourth quarter on a 10-2 run, taking a lead they would never give back. Junction City did make it a one point game at 49-48 with 1:36 left, but Hays hit six of their final eight free throws to take the 55-50 victory.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays was led by the 20 of Drew Young, 15 by Isaiah Nunnery and 10 from Shane Berens. The Indians are 5-1 at the break. Junction City is 2-2 and was led by Rcardo Evans with 16, TJ Poole with 12 and 10 from Tim Bell.