By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post Sports
COLBY - Hays High opened the 41st Orange & Black Classic by playing Goodland on Thursday evening.
Girls: #3 Hays 55, Goodland 31
Hays overcame a slow start to advance to the semifinals with a 55-31 victory over Goodland.
Goodland (8-5) jumped out to a 7-1 run through the first four minutes of the game. Hays (11-1) responded with eight straight points to take the first lead at 9-8 less than 90 seconds later. The score was tied at nine a few seconds later but the Indians never trailed again.
Leading 14-11 to start the second quarter, Hays went on a 16-2 run to take firm control of the game at 30-13. Each team made one more field goal for a 33-15 score at halftime.
Highlights
Hays scored the first four points of the second half and never looked back leading 37-15. A free throw filled third quarter, each team shot eleven, ended with the Indians leading 47-26. Neither team found much offense in the fourth quarter as Hays took the victory 55-31.
Coach Len Melvin
Jenna Schmeidler scored a game high 21. It is her sixth game this season with 20 or more points.
Hays will face #1-4A Wellington in the semifinals of the tournament for a second consecutive year. The game will tip at 3:00.
Schmeidler 21, Humphrey 2, LaBarge 7, Koerner 0, Cunningham 2, Armbruster 9, Turner 0, Newell 3, Harrington 0, Buckles 5, Winter 6.
Boys: #8 Hays 62, Goodland 28
Hays High never trailed in their 62-28 win over Goodland.
Hays (9-3) scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed in the first half. Goodland (7-6) was never closer than three points through the first two quarters at 7-3 midway through the first quarter.
The Indians hit back-to-back field goals to push the lead to eight but could not grab a double-digit lead through the first eight minutes.
Hays did push their advantage above nine for the first time in the second quarter. A minute into the frame the Indians nailed a three for a 12 point advantage at 19-7. Hays never led by less that ten points rest of the night.
Twice the Indians led by 15 in the first half, including halftime 31-16.
Highlights
Hays was never threatened in the second half building their lead steadily through the next sixteen minutes. The Indians scored the first four points of the third quarter for a 35-16 lead. They outscored the Cowboys 16-7 in the third for a 47-23 advantage.
The final five minutes of the contest was continuous clock as Hays led by 30 on their way to a 62-28 victory. Goodland in the prior five losses had lost those games by a total of 30 points.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays made a season high nine three pointers while holding Goodland to just a total of nine field goals made. 11 players scored for the Indians. Dawson Ruder scored 14 and Brody Harmoney added a career high 12.
Hays will face Concordia in the semifinals at 4:45.
Pfeifer 0, Burkholder 2, Homeier 4, Oakley 8, Hardman 3, Harmoney 12, Schmidtberger 3, Fox 7, Smalley 3, Day 4, Prediger 0, Otte 0, Ruder 14, Loving 2, Reid 0.