The Hays High Indians and Free State Firebirds squared off for the championship of the 39th Annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout. The two entered state ranked. Hays at #7 in 5A and Free State at #1 in 6A.
Free State led the entire first half after scoring the first four points of the game. The Indians were never closer than one point in the first sixteen minutes, with a score of 4-3 following a Noah Weimer three pointer.
Free State built a lead of nine for a second time with a free throw to open the second quarter at 15-6. Then led by eight at 17-9 with six minutes left before halftime. Hays though was able to chip away at the lead as the Firebirds missed their next eleven shots. Hays outscored Free State 8-5 in the second quarter and trailed 19-14 at halftime.
Highlights
Hays opened the second half on a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game. The run included points from four different players and was capped with a 24-21 Indian advantage.
The two teams proceeded to swap the lead five more times through the remainder of regulation. The Indians had a chance to take the lead with two free throws with 0.5 seconds left on the fourth quarter clock. Hays hit one of two leaving the game to be decided in overtime.
In the extra frame each team made one field goal and turned the ball over twice. The Firebirds took the first lead on a free throw at 40-39. Jace Linenberger scored the only overtime points for Hays with a basket at 41-40. Twenty seconds later Free State made their only field goal, a three pointer for a 43-41 advantage. Hays turned it over on their next possession while Free State made two free throws for the final difference 45-41.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Jace Linenberger scored a team high 13 and Noah Weimer added a career high 10. Jailen Thompson scored 14 and Jordan Brown 11 for the Firebirds who start the year 3-0. Hays falls to 2-1.
Wesley Oakley was named to the Tournament Academic Team. Carson Kieffer, Jordan Dale and Jace Linenberger made the All-Tournament Team. Linenberger was name Most Inspirational Player. Free State's Mozae Downing was name Tournament MVP.
Hays now has ten days off before they host Hoisington on December 14th.
Tournament Results
Girls
1st - Northside (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
2nd - Olathe West
3rd - #1-3A Hugoton
4th - #7-3A TMP
5th - Hays
6th - Great Bend
Boys
1st - #1-6A Free State
2nd - #7-5A Hays
3rd - Olathe West
4th - #7-3A Hugoton
5th - #3-3A TMP
6th - Great Bend