Hays High traveled to Goddard on Friday night for a sub-state championship game and berth to the 5A State Tournament.
Both teams played a tight first quarter and to a two all tie through the first six plus minutes of the game. Hays had four chances to break the tie and take the lead but was unable to do so. Goddard hit two shots in fifteen seconds to grab a 6-2 advantage. The Indians trailed 8-5 after the first quarter then cut the deficit down to 8-7 after an Isabel Robben coast to coast basket with 3:30 to go in the half.
Hays had one chance to take the lead without success and then Goddard received points from an unlikely source. A player that had made one three pointer on nine attempts on the season made back to back three pointers sandwiched around Jaycee Dale field goal for a 14-9 lead. Goddard hit a third straight three for a 17-11 advantage before Robben hit a put back shot for a halftime score of 17-13.
Highlights
Goddard scored the first points of the third quarter to take a seven point lead at 20-13. Back to back field goals from Brooke Denning and Taleia McCrae brought the Indians back within three at 20-17 and the lead remained around three points through the rest of the quarter and was at 24-21 heading to the fourth.
Goddard went on a 7-2 run for a game high eight point lead at 31-23 with 3:01 left. Then it was the Indians turn for their best run of the game. Six straight points by Hays closed the game down to a 31-29 score with 1:35 left. The final 1:16 came down to free throws. Goddard made 7 of 10 free throws while Hays made two of four attempts and made just one of their final five field goal attempts.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Goddard held on for a 38-33 win and punched a ticket to the 5A State Tournament in Emporia. The #3 Lions go to state at 20-2 while the Indians finish their year at 14-8.
Hays was led by Savannah Schneider scoring ten point.
Hays graduates four seniors that combined for 330 games played, 249 starts, 2010 points, 1147 rebounds, 490 assists and 480 steals. Mattie Hutchison played in a school record 86 games, Savannah Schneider 85 games, Kallie Leiker 84 games with 84 starts, and Jaycee Dale 75 games.