It took an extra twenty-three hours for Hays and Liberal to get their Western Athletic Conference contest started. Mother nature forced the game back to Saturday evening.
Girls
The number #2-6A Liberal Redskins flexed the muscles early with a 12-1 run and never let Hays closer than nine the entire game on their way to a 53-29 victory. Abilene Christian signee Katie Horyna hit a layup five seconds into the game on her way to a game high 17 points. Hays went without a field goal in the first quarter and had just two in the entire first half.
The Redskins used additional first half runs of 10-2 and 11-0 for a 34-8 halftime lead.
Coach Kyle Porter
Hays outscored Liberal in the second half 21-19 and was led by the 11 of Tasiah Nunnery.
Highlights
The Indians fall to 1-4 on the year and 0-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. Three time defending champs Liberal is 2-0 in conference play and 7-0 overall. The Redskins have won 17 straight conference games.
Boys
A late first quarter 8-0 run gave the Hays High Indians some much needed breathing room during their first conference game of the season against Liberal. The Indians led 13-5 after the first quarter and kept the lead between four and seven points most of the second quarter.
Liberal trimmed the lead down to 24-20 before Jason Krannawitter hit a three with thirty seconds left in half for a 27-20 advantage at halftime.
Coach Alex Hutchins
The best offensive stretch for the Indians came during a four minute stretch of the third quarter. A 13-1 run pushed the Hays advantage to a game high 18 with 2:10 left in the third quarter at 42-24.
Liberal though had one final push in them. The Redskins used a 15-6 run to get within nine at 48-39 with 3:30 left. Liberal would force Hays to win the game from the free throw line over the final three minutes which the Indians did. Hays made six straight to take a ten point lead to thirteen and an eventual 57-44 victory.
Highlights
Jace Linenberger scored a career high 18 including eight straight during the third quarter. TJ Nunnery scored 16 which matched a career high before fouling out. Carson Kieffer added 10.
Hays improves to 4-2 on the year and is 1-0 to begin conference play. Liberal falls to 4-4 and 1-1.
Hays is back home on Thursday to take on Great Bend.