Wednesday, on his 18th birthday, Kyler Leiker received a pretty awesome gift. Leiker signed his national letter of intent to play soccer for Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland.
Leiker said his senior year was the first time he realized that he would be able to compete in collegiate sports. Leiker was also kicker for the football team in the fall during the soccer season.
Coach Jim Maska said that it wasn’t only Kyler’s skill on the pitch that enabled him to get a scholarship, but also his leadership during a senior season that saw the team riddled with injuries. Leiker will join the Mavericks in the fall.
The Hays High Indians took on number one and undefeated McPherson on Saturday night for the sub-state championship. The game was held at Hays High, the Indians though being the two seed were the visitors for the game. Hays both wore the black road jerseys and sat on the bench opposite of a normal night.
The Indians took early leads of 3-0 and 6-3 on three pointers by Isaiah Nunnery and Keith Dryden. McPherson then went on a 9-0 run to go up 12-6. Hays trailed 14-10 after one quarter following an Isaiah Nunnery contested lay up.
The Indians had a chance to take the lead back down 15-13 but had a three pointer rattle half way down and out. McPherson used that rebound to start a 8-0 run to go up by ten. Hays hit two more three pointers to cut leads of 10 down to 7, but never got any closer in the second half. The Indians trailed 32-19 at half time. The Indians already had their game average of 13 turnovers by halftime.
Highlights
Hays never cut the McPherson lead below 11 in the second half. Hays trailed 45-33 after three quarters. McPherson went to a very deliberate offense in the fourth quarter limiting the Indians chances to score. Hays trailed by 11 with 3:50 to go in the game, but never got any closer, falling 57-46.
Coach Rick Keltner
The Indians end their year at 14-8. McPherson is 22-0 and has won 37 consecutive games. The Bullpups will be no worse than the #2 seed at state. Isaiah Nunnery led the Indians with 19. Brady Werth scored 10. Werth graduates as the Indians all time leading scorer with 1139 points, rebounder at 604, and collected 233 blocks.
The Hays High Lady Indians were visitors in their own gym on Friday night for the first round of sub-state. Hays was the three seed in the tournament taking on #8 Buhler, the two seed.
Each of the Lady Indians first four shots could have given Hays an early lead, but Hays missed on each attempt. Buhler didn’t score until two minutes into the game, but those two free throws ignited a 19-0 run to give the Crusaders all the room they would need. Hays fell behind 21-4 after the first quarter and 33-8 at half tim.
Highlights
Buhler never let up in the second half going on a 10-1 run to open third quarter. Hays trailed 57-14 after three quarter. The fourth quarter was a continuous clock and Hays held Buhler scoreless at 9-0, losing 57-23.
The Hays Indian’s close the year out at 6-15. #8 Buhler is 16-5 and will play #4 McPherson for the sub-state championship.
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.
Like their game in January, Hays fell behind by double figures in the first quarter to Great Bend. The Indians trailed 13-3 after the first six minutes of the game. Hays did end the first quarter with back to back field goals to get pull the score to 13-7.
Hays trailed by five at 17-12, then went on a 12-2 run over four minutes to take a 24-19 lead. Talyn Kleweno capped the run with back to back three pointers to give Hays their first lead of the game. Great Bend scored in the final seconds of the first half cutting the Indian lead down to 24-21.
Highlights
The Indians opened up the second half on a 8-0 run and held Great Bend scoreless for four minutes to build their lead to 11 at 32-21. Great Bend was able to erase that defecit and even take a a one point lead in the 4th quarter. Down 43-42, Hays went on an 8-2 run to regain the lead the the victory 55-48.
Coach Kirk Maska
The Indians were led in scoring by Audra Schmeidler 14 points and 11 rebounds. Talyn Kleweno scored 10.
Hays finishes the regular season at 6-14 and 2-6 in the WAC. Great Bend drops to 8-12 and 3-5.
Boys
Hays 56 – Great Bend 30
The Great Bend Panthers tried to slow down the Indian’s offense on Friday night and for one quarter it worked. Hays trailed the Panthers 8-7 after the first quarter. Hays started the second quarter on a 7-2 run and ended it on a 12-0 run to go up 26-13 at half time.
Highlights
Hays did not let off in the second half, pushing their lead to 20 with 5:00 to go in the third quarter. The Indians led 47-25 after three quarter and went on for the 56-30 win.
Coach Rick Keltner
Cash Hobson scored a game high 15, while Nunnery added 14 and Werth scored 13. Hays finishes the regular season at 13-7 and 5-3 in the WAC. Great Bend drops to 2-18 and 0-8.
Hays will host sub-state next Thursday Friday and Saturday. Brackets will come out on Saturday.
By the time that Hays rolled into Dodge City on Tuesday night, the Red Demons had already locked up the Western Athletic Conference championship winning each of their first six WAC games. In the final road game of the season for Hays, the Lady Indians were trying to put a blemish on that Dodge City record.
Hays held the lead on three different occasions in the first quarter, the latest at 8-6 when Talyn Kleweno hit a three pointer. Dodge City scored the next five points to go up 11-8, before Hays scored with less than a minute remaining in the quarter to get within one at 11-10.
The second quarter would not treat the Lady Indians nearly as well. Dodge City opened the quarter on a 12-1 run and finished it on a 10-0 run. Hays trailed at half time 33-13, and were 0-6 from the field.
Highlights
The Indians scored the first seven points of the second half cutting the lead down to 33-20. Dodge City then responded with a 11-3 run, going up 44-23. Hays would get no closer than 15 rest of the game, losing 60-32. Hays also lost Mattison Schlaefli in the game to an ankle injury during the second quarter.
Coach Kirk Maska
Hays falls to 5-14 on the season. The Red Demons are now 13-6. Hays will finish their regular season at home Friday versus Great Bend.
Boys Dodge City 53 – Hays 44
Both Hays and Dodge City needed a win on Tuesday night to realistically have a chance at winning the Western Athletic Conference. Both teams entered the night a half game back of Garden City in the conference standings.
Dodge City jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Isaiah Nunnery stole the ball and scored the only first quarter points for Hays. The Indians trailed 13-2 after the first quarter.
Hays trailed by 13 points on three different times in the second quarter, but an Isaiah Nunnery basket got the Indians back within eleven at half time, trailing 23-12.
Highlights
Cash Hobson hit two three pointers to start the second half. He was fouled on the second one, giving him a four point play. Hays outscored Dodge City 14-10 in the third quarter and down 33-26 at the end of quarter.
Isaiah Nunnery hit a three pointer to open the fourth quarter, getting Hays the closest they would be all night at 33-29. Dodge City answered with a 9-1 run, building their lead to 12 with 4:24 remaining in the game. Hays pulled with in five one final time following a Keith Dryden three pointer at 46-41. Hays though would get no closer as Dodge City hit 12 of their 14 fourth quarter free throws dropping Hays 53-44.
Cash Hobson led the Indians with 13. Isaiah Nunnery added 11.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays drops to 12-7 on the year and 4-3 in conference play. Dodge City is no 11-8 and 5-2. Garden City with a 20 point win claims a minimum share of the Western Athletic Conference title. Dodge City can claim a share by beat Liberal on Thursday.
Hays will finish their season at Great Bend on Friday at home for senior night.
The Hays High Lady Indians never could find a rhythm on Friday night versus Garden City. The Buffaloes started the game on a 10-2 run and lead 12-6 after one quarter.
Hays trailed by 14 in the second quarter 22-8, but finished the half on a 8-0 run to get within 6 at 22-16.
Highlights
Garden City started the second half with an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach as the Indians fall 47-31.
Audra Schmeidler lead the Indians with 10 points. Hays falls to 5-13 on the year and 1-5 in the Western Athletic Conference. Garden City is now 11-8 and 4-3.
Boys Hays 47 – Garden City 39
The Hays High Indians needed a win on Friday night in Garden City to keep their hopes of a Western Athletic Conference championship alive. The Indians trailed only once at 6-5 in their 47-39 win over Garden City.
Hays led after the first quarter 10-7 and pushed the lead to 18-9 early in the 2nd quarter. Garden City trimmed that lead down to three before Nathan Romme buried a left wing three and Keith Dryden followed that with a basket to give Hays a 23-15 lead at half time.
Highlights
Hays built a ten point lead at 31-21 midway through the third quarter, only to see Garden City score then straight to tie the game. The Buffaloes missed a free throw that would have tied the game. Isaiah Nunnery buried a three pointer as the third quarter expired to give Hays a 34-31 lead.
The Indians then built the lead to five as they started fourth quarter with the ball and got a Brady Werth basket. Garden City trimmed the lead down to one point three different times, the last at 40-39 with 2:30 to go in the game. Garden City would not score again as the Indians tallied the last seven points for the 47-39 win.
Isaiah Nunnery led the Indians with 16 points. Brady Werth added 10. Werth also grabbed six rebounds to become the Indians all-time leader in rebounds at 572.
Hays is now 12-6 on the year and 4-2 in the WAC. Garden City drops to 11-8 and 5-2.
Neither Hays or Abilene could buy a basket in the first quarter on Tuesday night. Hays was just 1 of 12. Abilene finished the first quarter at 3-17. Then Hays high took control of the second quarter. Trailing 7-5 after the first, the Indians got a Mattison Schlaefli three pointer to take their first lead of the game at 8-7. The Lady Indians turned the basket into a 11-0 run and didn’t allow Abilene to score until there was 2:40 left in the half. Hays pushed their lead as high as 10 in the first half at 20-10, and led at half time 20-12.
Highlights
Abilene opened up the second half on a 7-1 run to close the gap to 21-19. Abilene had a chance to tie the game, but missed a contested lay up with 4:30 to go in the third quarter. Hays scored the next nine points over the third and fourth quarter building their lead to 11 at 30-19. Hays kept their lead at double figures (35-25) with under 2:00 remaining in the game. Abilene then scored five straight points to get with in six. Hays made just 1 of 8 free throws over the final one minute, but Abilene only scored one point themselves, as the Indians pull the 37-31 upset.
Coach Kirk Maska
Abilene ranked #9 in class 4A-D1 drops to 13-5, shooting just 10 of 54. Hays made 14 of 34 shots. Hays is now 5-12 and have won back to back games. Audra Schmeidler led the way with 12 points.
Boys
Hays 66 – #6 Abilene 50
The Hays High Indians hit Abilene with a three point barrage in the first half, hitting 8 of 14 beyond the arc. The Indian’s first 12 shots attempts were of the three point variety. Despite the hot shooting, Abilene kept pace and tied the game at 15 after the first quarter and took a 18-15 lead with a three of their own to open the second quarter. Hays scored six straight to retake the lead they would have for rest of the half.
Highlights
Hays and Abilene played to a draw midway through the third quarter when Hays outscored Abilene 12-7, grabbing a 12 point lead at 53-41 heading to the fourth quarter. Abilene cut the lead down to seven at 56-49 with 4:05 left in the game. Hays clamped down on defense and ended the game on a 10-1 run.
The Indians made 13 of 24 three point attempts. Keith Dryden made six three pointers on his way to a game high 24. Isaiah Nunnery scored 13 and Brady Werth added 10. The Indians are 11-6 on the year, Abilene drops to 15-3. Hays is on the road to Garden City on Friday.
The Hays High Lady Indians won for the first time in 2015 with a 45-41 in over Liberal on Friday night. The Lady Indians trailed after the first quarter 12-11 and 18-16 midway through the second. Hays used a 7-0 run to go up by as many as five in that quarter and led at half time 25-22.
Highlights
The third quarter added the separation the Lady Indians needed for the victory. Hays outscored Liberal 13-3 in the third and led 38-25 entering the fourth. Liberal scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to get with in six and even closed the gap to five, twice in the final 65 seconds.
Coach Kirk Maska
Hays ends the nine game losing streak with the victory and picks up their first Western Athletic Conference win in nearly two years. Hays is now 4-12 on the season and 1-4 in the WAC. Liberal drops to 3-13 and 1-4.
Audra Schmeidler led the Indians with 16 points, including 8 of 10 from the free throw line.
Boys
Liberal 57 – Hays 54
It literally came down to the last second. Hays unfortunately was not the team with the ball.
Hays scored 17 points over the first 5:40 of the game, taking a 17-11 lead over Liberal. The Indians though would score just two points over the next seven minutes, allowing Liberal to take a 15-19 lead. Liberal pushed the first half lead as high as seven points before Hays closed it to 28-24 by half time.
Highlights
Hays trimmed the lead down to three on three occasions in the third quarter, the final coming at the end of the third at 37-34. Liberal seemed to have an answer every time the Indians made a push in the fourth quarter. Hays fell behind by nine at 52-43 with 2:07 remaining. Liberal would make just 2 of 8 free throws over the final 1:49 allowing Hays to close the gap. Keith Dryden and Isaiah Nunnery combined for three, three pointers in the final 1:34 to tie the game at 54 with :23 seconds remaining. Liberal elected to not take a time out and Cade Hinkle’s 31 foot falling-away prayer was answered when the ball swirled around three times and fell through the net. Liberal took the 57-54 win as time expired.
Coach Rick Keltner
Liberal had the best three point shooting game of the year making 10 of 17 attempts. Hinkle scored a career high 19 for Liberal.
Hays was led in scoring by the 17 of Keith Dryden and 13 of Isaiah Nunnery.
Liberal improves to 10-6 on the year and 2-3 in conference. Hays falls to 10-6 and 3-2. Hays has lost four of the last five games by a total of 15 points.
For a fourth consecutive game, one bad quarter blew open a close game for the Hays High Lady Indians. Hays, trying to snap an eight game losing streak, was taking on one of the best class 5A has to offer. Salina Central came in ranked 6th and 11-3 on the season.
Hays hung with the Lady Mustangs early after falling behind 5-0. The Lady Indians surged to tied the game at eight with three minutes to go in the first quarter. Central responded by closing the quarter on a 7-2 run taking a 15-10 lead.
Highlights
Hays stayed close through the second quarter and had the ball twice down by one point at 20-19, but failed to scored on either occasion. But still they trailed by just six at half time 25-19.
Hays kept the deficit at six midway through the third quarter, when Central closed on a 10-0 running to go up 44-28. Hays never got closer than 13 points in the fourth quarter, losing 59-42.
Coach Kirk Maska
Audra Schmeidler led the Indians with 13. Talyn Kleweno scored in double figures for the first time with 11.
Hays falls to 3-12 on the year. Salina Central is 12-3.
Boys Salina Central 49 – Hays 46
Hays and Salina Central played to two close games last season, and on Tuesday night they did again. Salina Central came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the state having won nine straight games. It was also a show down of state ranked teams with Hays at #10 in 4A-D1 and Central #3 in 5A.
Hays jumped out to a five point lead on three different occasions in the first half, the last coming at 15-10 in the second quarter. Central tied the game at 18 and again at 20 with 1:55 to go in the half. Salina Central then would score five point with out the Indians ever getting a possession. The Mustangs hit three of four free throws, two from a technical foul, and then a basket during a 13-2 run. Hays fell behind by seven before two free throws pulled the gap back to five at half time 27-22.
Highlights
Hays again fell behind seven early in the third quarter 31-24, but then fought back. Brady Werth scored 11 of the Indians 13 third quarter points to pull with in two, 37-35. The Indians tied the game at 39 with 6:31 remaining in the game, but never took the lead. Free throw shooting became an issue for both Hays and Central down the stretch. Hays made just 5 of their final attempts, two of which would have tied the game at different scores. Central made three of their final six in trying to put the game away in the final forty seconds. Hays had the ball with 1.8 seconds remaining, but never got off a shot, falling 49-46.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays falls to 10-5, losing three of their last four games to Scott City, Salina South, and Salina Central. Central has now won ten in a row, and hasn’t lost since the calendar turned to 2015. The Mustangs are 12-3.
Brady Werth was the only Indian in double figures with 24.
Hays will play at home again on Friday taking on Liberal.
Just over a month following the resignation of Bo Black as the head football and track coach at Hays High, a new coach has been selected. Randall Rath has agreed to a contract offer to begin teaching and coach in the fall of 2015. Rath’s job is still pending USD 489 school board approval.
Coach Randall Rath
Rath is currently at Cimarron High School, where he led the Bluejays to a 6-4 record and a playoff berth. He will be leaving Cimarron after just one season.
Rath had been coach in Oakley since 1992. He became head coach for the Plainsmen in 1998 and remained in that position through the 2013 season.
Rath plans to meet with the Indian football team in the next couple of weeks, and looks to take full control of the program the first of June.
Randall and his wife Ann are both Kansas natives. Their oldest daughter, Taylor, is married and lives in Aurora, Nebraska. Their middle daughter, Kaylen, is a junior at Fort Hays State University. Their youngest daughter, Marlee is a senior in high school at Cimarron.
Rath becomes the third coach in three years at Hays High School. Ryan Cornelsen left to become the head coach in Hutchinson two years ago. Black is headed to Shawnee Mission Northwest following this school year.
Rath says his plan is to run the football and then use play action off of the running game.
Rath also hopes raise the number of athletes out for football and all sports in general at Hays High. Rath believes that multi-sport athletes helps out all of the programs.
Hayden Kreutzer signed his letter of intent to play football for Fort Hays State University Wednesday at Hays High School. The six foot, 177 pound senior was a two-time all Western Athletic Conference selection and is one of the best pole vaulters in the state clearing 13’6” at 5A state last year to finish second.
Kreutzer had 52 career receptions for over 900 yards and 12 touchdowns. 36 of those receptions came during his senior year. Kreutzer also flashed his skill to run with the football carrying the ball 15 times for 206 yards and a touchdown. He also threw for a touchdown during his senior season.
Hayden Kreutzer
Defensively Kreutzer recorded 68 tackles his senior year and 119 for his career.
Kreutzer has been recruited as both a wide receiver and defensive back.
Brandon Hardwick, Butler Community College
Brandon Hardwick signed his letter of intent with Butler Community College Wednesday at Hays High School. The 6’3”, 236 pound senior recorded 94 tackles in two seasons with his time split between defensive line and linebacker. Hardwick also recorded seven tackles for loss in his career.
Brandon Hardwick
Hardwick was a three year starter on an offensive line that compiled more than 3900 combined rushing and passing yards his senior year.
He said that the coaches at Butler will have him working at the defensive end position in college.
The Hays High Lady Indians and Salina South Lady Cougars had combined for just five wins entering Tuesday night’s game. It made sense then that neither team could gain much separation from one another. Hays led early 8-5 after a 6-0 run and then 10-9 after the first quarter.
Hays built their lead to five on two occasions and had the ball up 19-14 but couldn’t score. South went on a 7-0 lead to gain the lead at 21-19, when Audra Schmeidler hit a three to put the Lady Indians up 22-21. South responded with a driving layup on their next possession to take a 23-22 lead at half time.
Highlights
The Lady Indians scored the first seven points of the second half to build their biggest lead of the game at 29-23. South though responded with a 11-4 run to close the third quarter up 34-33.
South went on a game defining run scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter, while taking a 42-33 lead. Hays trimmed the lead down to seven on two occasions but never got any closer.
Coach Kirk Maska
Audra Schmeidler and Maddie Keller each scored 10 points to lead Hays. The Lady Indians fall to 3-11. South is now 3-10 and have one back to back games.
Salina South 55 – Hays 51
Nothing seemed to go right for Hays High in the first quarter against Salina South. The Cougars hit their first four three point baskets and took a 24-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Cougar’s Jacob Foster outscored Hays himself in the first quarter 14-8.
The Indians trailed by 18 to open up the second quarter on their first field goal. Hays slowly crawled back in the game with a 10-4 and 8-2 run to trail 35-26 at half.
Highlights
Hays High continued to chip away at the lead getting five straight points to open the third quarter from Cash Hobson to get with in 35-31. Hays would trail by six after three quarter 42-36.
As they did all game, Hays chipped away at the lead. A three pointer from Drew Young made it a one point ball game then a second three after an offensive rebound tied the game at 50 with 4:15 remaining. Hays though managed just one point over the remainder of the game, falling 55-51.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays was led in scoring by Isaiah Nunnery with 18. Drew Young scored a career high 17.
The Indians fall to 10-4 on the year. South has won 6 of their last 7 games and are 8-5 on the season.
