Hays High closed out the regular season with a trip to Great Bend on Friday. The game still held significance for both Indian teams for postseason beginning next week.
Girls
#9 Hays 40 - Great Bend 43
A three point game in Great Bend came down to free throw shooting. Great Bend made 20 of 24 attempts while Hays made just 8 of 21 in a 48-45 victory for the Panthers.
Neither team scored for over three minutes of the first quarter. Hays took the lead at 3-0 and 5-2. The two teams swapped the lead seven times and were tied on five occasions in the first half, including at halftime 16-16.
Highlights
The Indians led twice early in the third quarter before Great Bend took the lead back on back to back field goals with six minutes left in the third.
Hays trailed 27-25 enter the fourth quarter but took the lead back at 30-28 and 32-30. At each of those scores Hays had the ball but couldn't extend the lead to two possessions.
Great Bend went on the longest run of the game by scoring eight straight points for a 38-32 lead. Hays put the Panthers at the free throw line over the last 1:20 and Great Bend responded by making 10 of 14. The last two makes pushed the lead to 48-45 with five seconds left. The Indians got a decent look at a three to end the game but could not connect.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays finishes the regular season at 12-8 and 4-4 in conference play. Great Bend improves to 7-13 and 2-6. The Indians drop to the eight seed in postseason play and will host a game next Wednesday evening.
Boys
#3 Hays 48 - Great Bend 45
Hays never trailed and the game was never tied as the Indians beat Great Bend 58-45 to close the regular season. Hays scored the first eight points of the first and second quarters. The Panthers did get within two points twice in the first but was never closer rest of the game.
The second quarter 8-0 run put Hays up 13 with 4:49 left. The Indians only scored two more points before halftime and Great Bend closed within six at 25-19.
Highlights
The Panthers continued to chip away at the lead at 27-24 with 6:50 left in the third. Hays responded with a 15-6 run to close the third quarter and pull out to a 42-30 advantage.
Hays led by at least seven through the entire fourth quarter, winning 58-45.
Coach Alex Hutchins
The victory pushes Hays to 19-1 and 8-0 in the WAC. Hays finishes the last to season undefeated in league play. Great Bend falls to 7-13, 3-5.
Hays will be the top seed in 5A West and host on Tuesday.
Jace Linenberger led all scoring with 19. Carson Kieffer added 13.