By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post Sports
Hays - Hays High opened 2026 by hosting the Manhattan Indians on Tuesday evening. All four teams entered the contest state ranked.
Girls: #5-5A Hays 58, #8-6A Manhattan 45
It was the second meeting between the two Indian programs. Hays defeated Manhattan in the championship of the Hays City Shootout in December. A 13-2 second quarter run by Hays provided the cushion they used for the second half to win 58-45.
Manhattan scored the first points of 2026. It took Hays a little over two and a half minutes to respond, doing so with a 9-0 run. Hays held Manhattan to just a pair of first quarter field goals and led 12-4 through the first eight minutes.
Manhattan pulled within four twice at 14-10 and 16-12 midway through the second quarter. The next two and a half minutes belonged the Hays. Four field goals, three of which were three pointers, and a pair of free throws provided a 13-2 run that pushed the Hays lead to 29-14. Manhattan scored the final two points of the half for a 29-16 ball game.
Highlights
Hays held three more 15 points leads in the third quarter. Manhattan never drew closer than ten points in the third and Hays took a 43-32 edge to the final eight minutes.
Manhattan got their deficit to single digits on a few occasions in the fourth quarter but never closer than eight and that occurred in the final minute. Hays made seven of their final eight free throws to win 58-45.
Coach Len Melvin
Jenna Schmeidler and Zoe Winter each unofficially recorded a double-double. Schmeidler with a game high 26 points and 10 rebounds. Winter scored 11 points and grabbed 10 boards.
Hays will host Emporia on Friday.
Rupp 9, Schmeidler 26, Humphrey 2, LaBarge 0, Armbruster 3, Turner 3, Newell 0, Buckles 4, Winter 11.
Boys: #9-6A Manhattan 62, #8-5A Hays 59 (OT)
It took four extra minutes to decide the first game of 2026 between Hays and Manhattan. Fifteen lead changes and seven ties later, it was Manhattan who left Hays with a three point win.
Hays built the largest lead for either team six minutes into the game. A 13-6 run to start the contest was erased the final two minutes of the first quarter when Manhattan scored seven straight points.
Manhattan hit a three to open the second quarter and complete a 10-0 run for a 16-13 lead. Hays responded with four straight points on a pair of technical free throws and a field goal to grab the lead back immediately after the three pointer by Manhattan.
The biggest lead by either team in the second quarter would belong to Manhattan at 31-27. Hays scored with 30 seconds left before halftime to make the score 31-29 at the break.
Highlights
Hays scored the first five points out of the locker room to go up 34-31. The two teams swapped the lead for the remainder of the quarter and then were locked up at 44 a piece heading to the fourth.
Hays went up by three in the first minute of the quarter only to be matched by three free throws of Manhattan to tie the game at 47. Manhattan then made just one of four free throws to allow Hays the chance to take the lead back on four straight points at 51-48 with three minute remaining in regulation.
A free throw by Hays with just over a minute left increased the lead to 52-50. Manhattan drove the basket for a layup with 8.9 seconds left to tie the game for a seventh time. Hays got a shot away from just inside the arc but could not connect.
Manhattan scored the first six points of overtime to lead 58-52. Hays made four straight free throws to pull within two. Trailing 61-59 Hays missed two free throws to tie the game with just under a minute left. Each team turned the ball over on their next possession forcing Hays to foul. Manhattan made one of two free throws in 7.1 seconds showing on the clock. Hays fired a contested corner three at the buzzer that just missed.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Dawson Ruder recorded a double-double. He matched his season high in points with 24 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Manhattan (6-1) matches their win total from a season ago with the victory. Hays (6-3) will face a fourth consecutive ranked team with they host Emporia on Friday.
Pfeifer 0, Homeier 0, Oakley 12, Harmoney 2, Fox 18, Smalley 3, Ruder 24, Loving 0.