Hays High 57 – Liberal 31 (Ladies)
Hays High scored the first seven points of the game and then after having their lead cut to four, scored the next ten points to lead by fourteen, and the Hays High Ladies Indians rolled to a 57-31 win over Liberal.
Hays broke a three game losing streak in picking up their seventh win of the year. Katelyn Schumacher scored a career high 23 and Janae Gagnon added 13 in the win. All told seven girls scored on the night. Hays shot 47% (23-49) and turned the ball over only seven times. Liberal shot only 28% (11-40) with 22 turnovers.
Hays improves to 7-9 (3-2). Liberal drops to 4-13 (0-5).
Lady Indian Highlights 2-8
Maska Post Game Interview 2-8
Hays High 60 – Liberal 46 (Boys)
Slow starts have spelled disaster at times for Hays High this season. Friday night, the Indians scored just one field goal and six points in the first quarter and trailed Liberal by as many as nine points (17-8) at the 5:40 mark of the second quarter. Hays thought fought back outscoring Liberal 14-3 over the next five minute to take a 22-20 half time lead.
At half time the two teams combined for nine field goals and 23 made free throws.
Liberal scored the first five points of the second half grabbing a 25-22 lead, and that is when Hays High took control. The Indians broke away on a 13-1 run and after two Liberal free throws another 9-0 run that extended into the fourth quarter. Hays outscored Liberal 20-8 in the third.
Hays pushed the lead as high as 18 during the fourth quarter winning 60-46.
The game featured a combined 50 turnovers and 72 free throws.
Hays shot 29-37 from the line while Liberal was 19-35. Liberal made 16-22 free throws to start the game but made only 3 of 13 down the stretch.
Hays shot 33% (14-43) and 16% (3-19) on three pointers. Liberal was 32% (12-38) and 18% (3-17) behind the arc.
The Indians were led by Lane Clark with 19 points. Clark made 10 of 12 free throws and two of the Indians threes. Brady Werth added 11. Nine different Indians scored.
Liberal put three in double figures. JJ Lews (an FHSU football signee) scored 13 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Blake Stout added 11 and William Ross scored 10.
Hays improves to 11-5 on the year and 3-2 in the WAC. Liberal is now 5-12 and 1-4 in conference play.
Both Indian teams are on the road to Abilene on Tuesday.