HAYS - Hays High wrapped up a four game homestand and celebrated Senior Night on Tuesday by hosting Dodge City.
Both the girls teams came in ranked 9th in their respective classes and both teams 3rd.
Girls
#9-6A Dodge City 41 - #9-5A Hays 40
Hays held Dodge City without a first quarter field goal but could only build a 7-1 lead after the first eight minutes. Jersey Johnson got the Indians to a 3-0 lead on her first shot of the game.
Hays held a six point lead at 13-7 in the second quarter and an 18-13 advantage with two minutes before halftime. The Red Demons rattled off the final seven points of the half and scored with five second remaining to claim a 20-18 lead at halftime.
Highlights
The Red Demons led the entire third quarter and built their advantage to 34-26 with five minutes remaining in the game. Hays had their offense comeback to live and went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 38-36 lead with 1:10 left.
Dodge City reclaimed the lead at 39-38 just fifteen seconds later. The teams traded turnovers and missed shots over the next five possessions before Molly Martin knocked down two free throws for a 40-39 advantage with 7.8 seconds left.
Dodge City went the length of the court and had the ball knocked out of bounds with just two second remaining and neither team having a timeout left. The Red Demons got the ball in and Camree Johnson provided the last of her game high 15 points to lift Dodge City to a 41-40 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays seniors Aleyia Ruder and Jersey Johnson each scored nine to lead the Indians who shot a season high 53%.
The Indians fall to 12-7 and 4-3 in conference play. Dodge City improves to 16-3, 5-2.
Boys
#3-6A Dodge City 43 - #3-5A Hays 59
Dodge City made five of their first six shots and pulled out to a 12-5 lead in the first quarter and led 12-7 heading into the second. The Red Demons grabbed another multi-possession lead at 16-11 with 5:21 left in the the first half. Hays controlled the remainder of the time.
Hays made seven of their next eight shots and their only free throw of the quarter for a 16-0 run that covered 5:00. That run put Hays up 27-16 at halftime.
Highlights
The Indians continued the run through the first minute of the third quarter and a 32-16 lead. Dodge City used the next seven minutes of the game clawing out of that hole. The Red Demons put on a 20-12 run that closed the Indian lead down to 44-36 at the end of the third quarter.
Dodge City drew within five at 44-39 before the Indians put the game away. Carson Kieffer scored seven straight points for the Indians which ignited a game ending 15-7 run for a 59-43 win.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Jace Linenberger led all scoring with 26 points and tied a career high with 16 rebounds. Linenberger moved to 900 career points and tied Roger Casey (1980) for 6th all-time. He passes Sean Finn (2000) and Wes Simoneau (1997). He also becomes the sixth player in school history with 900 career points and 400 rebounds, joining Bill Giles (1977), Roger Casey (1980), Justin Johnson (1990), Matt Stramel (2006), and Brady Werth (2015).
Carson Kieffer scored 15 points. He also became the career assists record holder by passing Marcus Watts' record of 368.
Jordan Dale added 12 points.
Hays also claimed their third consecutive Western Athletic Conference title. It is the first time the Indians have done so since the formation of the league in 1984.