By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
HAYS - Hays High and Liberal met up for their second Western Athletic Conference matchup of the season on Friday night at Hays High School. The meeting took place more than two months after the two opened league play in December.
GIRLS: #4-5A Hays 65, #9-6A Liberal 32
The girls game featured two state ranked teams just like in the December matchup. Hays used an 11-0 first quarter run to take the lead for good in a 65-32 victory.
It was a fight early. The game was tied at two and four then the Redskins took a 7-4 advantage and led at 9-7 midway through the first quarter.
Hays answered with a bucket to tie the game and launch an 11-0 run that gave the Indians an advantage they never gave back. Through the second four minutes of the first quarter the Indians outscored Liberal 15-4 for a 22-13 lead.
Hays continued to push the lead in the second quarter. A 12-0 run following a Redskin basket put the Indians ahead 34-15. Hays led by 20 twice in the second quarter, including a 41-21 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Liberal scored the first point of the third quarter on a free throws. Hays scored the next ten points to lead 51-22. The Indians led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter and by 29 going to fourth 57-28.
A Hays basket thirty seconds in the fourth quarter enacted a continues fourth quarter that ended with a 65-32 Indian victory.
Coach Len Melvin
The 65 points scored by Hays(16-0, 5-0) is right on their average for the season. The Indians now have a two game lead and the tiebreaker over Liberal(12-6, 4-2) in the conference standings. The Indians have won 16 consecutive WAC games.
Molly Martin moved past Melissa Beyer for third all-time scoring at Hays High with 965 points.
Jenna Schmeidler 22; Annie Humphrey 0; Katie Linenberger 7; Molly Martin 16; Kenlee Winter 8; Morgan Armbruster 0; Jaysa Roa 0; Kinslee Newell 0; Riley Dreher 0; Lynsi Kanak 0; Molly Buckles 5; Zoe Winter 7; Liz Cunningham 0; Rylen Harrington 0.
BOYS: Hays 67, Liberal 30
A workman like effort in the first half for Hays gave way to a second half explosion as the Indians beat Liberal 67-30.
Hays trailed twice early at 3-0 and 8-7. A traditional three point play gave the Indians a lead at 10-8 when Liberal tied the game up at ten. The next three minutes belonged to the Indians as they scored the next eight points for an 18-10 lead. Liberal scored the final points of the first for an 18-12.
The Indians' defense clamped down in the second quarter. Hays used a 11-4 run over the final 5:27 of the half to extend their lead out to 32-18 at half.
Highlights
Hays opened the second half on a 19-1 run to put any doubt in the outcome away with a lead of 51-19. Liberal's first field goal of the third quarter came with 2:30 left in the frame. Hays led by as many as 36 in third quarter and 59-26 heading to the fourth.
A continuous clock fourth quarter kept the scoring to a minimum. The Indians still outscored Liberal 8-4 for the 67-30 victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays(9-7, 4-1) has won 16 straight games against the Redskins. Liberal(3-15, 0-6) has lost 31 consecutive WAC games.
Hays hosts McPherson on Monday in make-up games from earlier in the week.
Carter Lang 5; Johnny Cano 8; Trace Jacobs 4; Cooper Lindenmeyer 6; Brogan Albers 0; Trey Oakley 4; Tiger Johnson 12; Brody Harmoney 0; Izaac Fox 12; Noah Smalley 1; Brecken Otte 2; Dawson Ruder 12; Alex Loving 0; Bryce Homeier 0; Kyle Burkholder 0.