By Dustin Armbruster
Hays Post Sports
COLBY - Both the Hays High girls and boys advanced to the championship games of the Colby Orange & Black Classic for a second consecutive season.
Girls
#3-5A Hays 43 - #1-4A Wellington 26
Hays High held Wellington to 34 points under their season average in a 43-26 victory.
The Indians trailed just twice early in the contest. Hays took the lead for good on a 7-0 burst that put the Indians ahead 10-4 with less than two minutes left in the first quarter. The Crusaders scored four straight points to pull within two at 10-8 but Hays grabbed a 12-8 lead after the first quarter.
Wellington made it a one possession game just twice more at 12-10 and 15-12. Hays led by at least five points for the rest of the game. There was only 31 total points in the first half. Hays had a majority of the points though in a 19-12 lead.
Highlights
The Indians held three different double-digit leads in the third quarter. The third was an eleven point advantage at the end of third 32-21.
Hays controlled the fourth quarter and erased any doubt of the outcome out of the equation with six straight points for a 43-23 lead with four minutes remaining. The Indians didn't score in the final four minutes, but they allowed just three points over the final 5:55 of the game for a 43-26 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays moves to the championship to face either Standley Lake (Colorado) or Concordia.
Jenna Schmeidler and Zoe Winter each recorded their second double-double of the season.
Schmeidler 15, Humphrey 0, LaBarge 0, Cunningham 0, Armbruster 2, Turner 3, Newell 6, Harrington 0, Buckles 6, Winter 11.
Boys
#8-5A Hays 73 - #7-4A Concordia 43
Hays High scored a season high in points for a 73-43 win over Concordia and a spot in the tournament finals.
Hays (10-3) scored the first nine points of the game and didn't yield a field goal for the first three minutes. A three pointer by Concordia made the score 9-4. It was the closest the Panthers would be all night.
A quick five point spurt pushed the Indians to a 10 point lead for the first time at 16-6. Hays finished the first quarter with a 20-9 lead. Hays opened the second quarter on a 8-2 run to take a 17 point lead at 28-11. The Panthers made one final push to get back within eleven. Four straight points to end the half allowed the Indians to take a 34-19 lead into the locker room.
Highlights
Hays led by twenty points for a majority of the second half. A 9-2 spurt pushed the Indians in front by a 49-26 score with two minutes left in the third quarter. Hays took a 51-30 lead to the fourth quarter and continued to add to the advantage.
The Indians eventually led by 30 in the final minute and walked away from the court with a 73-43 victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays advances to the championship game to face either Beloit or Colby, who had not played at the time of publishing.
Pfeifer 4, Burkholder 2, Homeier 9, Oakley 4, Harmoney 3, Schmidtberger 0, Fox 19, Smalley 2, Day 2, Otte 0, Ruder 21, Loving 6.