The 38th annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout had a different look on Thursday. COVID-19 caused some teams to be unable to attend as their season hadn't even started yet.
Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hugoton and Life Prep Academy made up the four team field in 2020. The format was held round robin with each team playing the other over three days.
Fans were also absent from the gymnasium as KSHSAA had voted the week prior to not allow any non-participants at winter contests until at least January 28, 2021.
The TMP Lady Monarchs opened the tourney with a 37-33 win over Life Prep. The TMP boys picked up a 70-55 victory over Life Prep
Girls
#6-3A Hugoton 47 - Hays 26
Scoring would come tough for the Indians through out the night for Hays as they tallied just single digit points in each quarter. The Indians led 2-0 and kept Hugoton scoreless for the first three minutes then fell behind 8-2. A 6-0 run tied the game at eight heading into the second quarter and then was tied at eleven two minutes later.
The Eagles embarked on what turned out to be a decisive 10-4 run that gave Hugoton a 21-15 lead at halftime.
Down 23-17 just over a minute into the third quarter Hays could not score on their next seven possessions with three missed field goals and four turnovers while holding Hugoton scoreless.
Eventually Mikyn Hamlin, who averaged 16 points as a freshman, found her stroke scoring nine of her game high 20 points helping Hugoton to a 33-20 lead after three quarters and a 47-26 victory.
Morgan Engle scored a team high ten in her first career game for the Indians. Mikyn Hamlin scored 20 and Summya Adigun added 11 for Hugoton.
Hays opens the year 0-1. Hugoton improves to 1-0.
Boys
Hays 77 - Hugoton 55
Hays used an 18-0 run in the first quarter to blow open a 2-2 tie on their way to a 77-55 win over Hugoton. The Indians ballooned their lead up to 23 during the second quarter going into the locker room leading 42-19.
Dalyn Schwartz and Jace Linenberger hit double figures by halftime for the Indians.
The lead hovered around 20 for most of the third quarter and as high as 24 at 60-36 with thirty seconds left in the frame. That is when Hugoton started their best run of the game.
Powered by nine straight points from the free throw line the Eagles went on a 15-2 run getting within eleven at 62-51. The Eagle had the ball at that score but a three pointer was tipped and the Indians turned the rebound into the beginning of a 15-4 run to finish the game.
Hays was led by Linenberger who tied a career high of 21. Schwartz ended the night with a career high 20 and tied a career high 13 rebounds for his fourth career double-double. Carson Kieffer scored 14 on the strength of four three pointers.
Hays improves to 1-0. Hugoton starts the year at 0-1.