The Hays High girls finished the 39th Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout with Great Bend on Saturday morning. Both teams entered the day looking for their first win of the season.
Neither team could find a consistent groove in the first quarter of the 11a.m. game. Turnovers ruled the first four minutes before Hays made a pair of free throws for the first points of the game. Great Bend scored the next six for a 6-2 advantage.
The Indians tied the game at six which started one of their best runs of the young season. Hays built a lead of eight in the second quarter on a long 18-6 run. The Indians however were held scoreless for the next 3:05 and the Panthers trimmed the lead down to three by halftime at 20-17.
Highlights
Great Bend pulled within one point on the first points of the third quarter at 20-19 before Hays scored the next seven. The eight point lead at 27-19 was their first of four eight point leads in the second half. Each time Great Bend chipped away at the lead. The Panthers got within three at 31-28 with the first points of the fourth quarter and had the next three minutes to pull closer, but could not.
The Indians' only fourth quarter field goal came on a three pointer with just under three minutes remaining for a 35-28 win. Hays made six of their final eight free throws to hold off any charge from the Panthers, winning 41-32.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays improves to 1-2 in the victory. Molly Martin scored a career high 12 points, which included three, three point field goals. Great Bend falls to 0-3.
The Indians next game is December 14th when they host Hoisington.