Hays finished off the 2024 portion of their regular season with a trip to Manhattan on Friday night.
Girls
#5-5A Hays 56 - #10-6A Manhattan 48
Hays and Manhattan lived up to their rankings as the two were tied 12 times and changed the lead 18 times. Hays ended the game with a 12-3 run to win 56-58. It took 12 ties and 18 lead changes to decide the game.
Hays led by four points three minutes into the contest at 8-4. That would be the biggest lead for either team until the fourth quarter. Each team scored 13 points in the first quarter.
A pair of Hays free throws put Hays ahead at halftime 24-22. Manhattan had their biggest lead of the game late in the third and early in the fourth, both times by two points.
Highlights
Manhattan led 34-32 and 37-35 with the second lead coming on the first points of the fourth quarter. The two swapped the lead back and fourth before Manhattan led 45-44 with 3:35 remaining. Zoe Winter hit a three pointer to ignite a 9-0 run. She scored the first seven points.
Hays ended the game with a 12-3 run for the 56-48 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Winter led the Indians with 14. Katie Linenberger scored 14 as well and added 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Molly Martin scored 12. Hays goes to the break at 6-0. Manhattan drops to 4-2.
Jenna Schmeidler 7; Annie Humphrey 0; Katie Linenberger 14; Molly Martin 12; Kenlee Winter 5; Morgan Armbruster 0; Lynsi Kanak 0; Molly Buckles 4; Zoe Winter 14.
Boys
Manhattan 60 - Hays 57
Hays and Manhattan both took seven point leads in the first half. Manhattan used a 9-0 first quarter run to lead 9-2 three minutes into the game. Hays countered with a 14-2 to close out the first quarter leading 16-11.
Hays took their seven points leads in the second quarter at 19-12 and 23-16. A six point spurt by Manhattan closed the gap down to 23-22 before Cooper Lindenmeyer beat the second quarter clock with basket to lead 25-22 at halftime.
Highlights
Neither team grabbed firm control of the game in the third quarter. Manhattan led by four at one point before Tiger Johnson made two of his five threes to give Hays the lead back at 35-33. The lead changed hands until Manhattan led 40-39 going the fourth quarter.
Manhattan led by five when Hays went on a 10-2 run to take the lead back at 49-46 three minutes into the fourth quarter. The teams took turns leading in the final three minutes. An Izaac Fox dunk put Hays up 53-50 with 2:45 left. Manhattan took the lead back on a pair of free throws at 1:57. A Dawson Ruder traditional three point play gave Hays the lead with :55 seconds then Manhattan answered with a top of the key three for a 57-56 advantage.
Hays hit one of two free throws with 4.2 second lefts to tie the game. It left just enough time for Manhattan to bank in a running three from well past the three point line for a 60-57 victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays falls to 3-3 in the loss. Manhattan improves to 2-4 and wins at the buzzer one week after losing to Dodge City at the buzzer. Cooper Johnson scored a career high 20. Dawson Ruder had a second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The game featured seven ties and eleven lead changes.
Carter Lang 0; Johnny Cano 2; Trace Jacobs 0; Cooper Lindenmeyer 2; Trey Oakley 9; Tiger Johnson 20; Izaac Fox 8; Noah Smalley 0; Dawson Ruder 16.