Jan 12, 2020 12:45 AM

Tigers run out of steam down the stretch at Rogers State

Posted Jan 12, 2020 12:45 AM

CLAREMORE, Okla. – For 30 minutes Fort Hays State went toe-to-toe with MIAA newcomer Rogers State, but the Hillcats used a 22-6 second half run to turn a seven-point deficit into a nine-point lead and beat the Tigers 68-58 Saturday afternoon at the Claremore Expo Center.

Fort Hays State (6-8, 0-6 MIAA) played with the lead for nearly 15 minutes of the first and led 38-34 at halftime. They pushed that lead to seven on an Aaron Nicholson floater from the baseline with 16:12 to play but the Hillcats scored the next eight to take the lead.

Calvin Harrington’s only 3-pointer of the game gave the Tigers the lead for the final time at 49-47. TheHillcats scored the next six points and never trailed again, outscoring FHSU 36-20 in the second half to avoid their first four-game losing streak in program history.

The Tigers have now lost four straight and start MIAA play 0-6 for the first time since joining the conference in 2006-07.

Aaron Nicholson hit 3-for-7 from beyond the arc and led the Tigers with 15 points. Devin Davis added.

Marques Sumner led the Hillcats with 18 points.

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Jan 12, 2020 12:45 AM
Hays splits with Liberal to open WAC play
Hays splits with Liberal to open WAC play

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.

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