By Dustin Armbruster

Hays and Dodge City met up for the second time in just six day. Both times in Dodge City. This time though at Dodge City and the game counted for the Western Athletic Conference standings. The first go around Hays pulled away late in the fourth quarter winning by sixteen points and claiming fifth at the Dodge City Tournament of Champions.

Hays High started the game out with a rare four point play from Maddux Winter on the Indian’s first possession. Like the first game between the two, the first half would be designed by runs. The Red Demons used a 6-0 run to take a two point lead at 6-4. Hays closed the first quarter with three straight three pointers, including a buzzer beater from Laken Jacobs to give Hays a 17-10 lead.

Highlights

Dodge City used a 12-3 run over the first 4:30 of the second quarter to reclaim the lead at 22-20. But again this was a game of runs. Hays responded with a 15-5 run to push their lead to eight at 35-27. Two late free throws from Dodge City cut the half time lead down to 35-29.

Hays held Dodge City scoreless for nearly the first three minutes of the third quarter building their lead to 14 twice and led 47-36 after three quarters.

Hays pushed their to 14 with 2:40 remaining after Dodge City went to fouling the Indians. Keith Dryden made five of six free throws to push the Hays lead back to fourteen with 2:40 remaining in the game. Dodge City had one last push in them cutting the Hays lead down to three on two occasions, the last one with forty seconds remaining at 56-53. Hays hit six of their next eight free throws claiming a 62-59 win after a half court three pointer from Dodge City at the buzzer. Hays made 13 of 16 free throws int he fourth quarter.

Coach Rick Keltner

Hays moves to 11-2 on the season and 4-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. Dodge City falls to 5-7 and 1-2.

Hays was led by Drew Young with 12 and Keith Dryden scoring 11. Dryden was 9-12 from the free throw line.