Hays High won their fourth game in a row which also put them into the championship of the Colby Orange & Black Classic. The 62-48 victory over Colby marks the tenth time Hays has made the championship game in twenty-two tries.
The game was full of runs by both teams early. Colby opened the game on a 10-2 run in the first three minutes. Hays responded with 11-0 run during which they took their first lead of the game. The Eagles went on another first quarter run. Nine straight points by Colby recaptured the lead at 19-13.
Colby continued to lead 21-15 after the first quarter and still led by five at 27-22 three and a half minutes into the second quarter. The Indians went back on the attack and closed the first half with an 11-3 run that gave Hays a 33-30 halftime lead.
Highlights
A strong third quarter propelled Hays to a double digit lead. The Indians outscored Colby 13-4 in a little over six minutes. That stretch put the Hays High lead up to 46-34 before Colby hit a pair of free throws to end the third quarter.
Hays scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and built a game high edge of 15 at 51-36. The lead for the Indians hovered between nine and twelve points for a majority of the fourth quarter. Hays made four of their last six free throws to win 62-48.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Colby(8-4) was 9 for 11 shooting in the first quarter. They made 10 of 36 shots rest of the way. Hays(7-4) shot 48% from the floor. Cooper Lindenmeyer grabbed a game high and career high nine rebounds for the Indians.
Hays will face Olathe North at 6:00 in the championship on Saturday.
Carter Lang 0; Johnny Cano 12; Trace Jacobs 0; Cooper Lindenmeyer 2; Trey Oakley 5; Tiger Johnson 12; Izaac Fox 14; Dawson Ruder 17.