Both the Hays High girls and boys played in the consolation semifinals of the Colby Orange and Black Classic Friday afternoon.
Girls
Hays 67, Ulysses 36
A season high in points and field goal percentage vaulted Hays to a 67-36 victory over Ulysses. The Tigers hung around through the first quarter after making consecutive threes to tie the game up at 13 through eight minutes.
The middle two quarters treated the Indians kindly. Hays outscored Ulysses 44-15 during the sixteen minutes. The Indians went on a 10-0 run to push their advantage to 11. That run was part of a larger 17-2 run covering seven minutes and resulting in a halftime lead of 33-17.
Hays led by as many as 32 during the third quarter as they outscored Ulysses 24-11. The Indians used an 18-5 run pushed the advantage to a game high 32 at 57-25.
The fourth quarter was mostly a running clock and ended with a Hays 67-36 victory.
Nine players scored with four in double figures. Katie Linenberger scored a career high 15. Molly Martin added 13. Martin is one made three pointer shy of tying the school record for career made threes of 95. The record is held by Melissa Beyer a 2001 graduate. Zoe Winter also scored 13 and Morgan Armbruster knocked in 10 points, career highs for both.
Hays improves to 6-4 on the season while Ulysses drops to 0-11. The Indians will play for 4th place at 1:00 Saturday in the main gym.
The game can be heard on 96.9 KFIX with a 12:40 pregame show. Video will be available at Hays Post.
Boys
Hays 67, Pine Creek (CO) 64
Less than 24 hours after an opponent's three pointer pushed the Hays High Indians into, a three pointer rattled out resulting in a Hays victory. Pine Creek had two looks in the final twenty seconds but couldn't connect as Hays escaped with a 67-64 win.
Hays never led in the first half and only tied the game once at 17. Pine Creek made 10 of 21 three point attempts in the first half and led 34-30.
The Eagles threatened to run away with the game opening the second half on a 1-3 run. The result was a 44-33 lead with 4:25 left on the third quarter clock. Hays changed their defensive approach and began the comeback.
Over the next 3:10 Hays went on a 16-2 run to grab their first lead of the game at 49-46. Pine Creek scored five quick points to take the lead back but it was short lived as the Indians tied the game and took the lead for the final time in the final thirty seconds of the quarter.
Hays never trailed in the final quarter. Pine Creek got within one point just one time at 59-58 but missed a three to take the lead. Hays made 10 of 12 third quarter free throws and 7 of 10 in the fourth quarter to hang to a 67-64 victory.
Hays improves to 5-5 on the season behind 21 points from Dawson Ruder and 17 out of Jack Weimer. Weimer scored nine points in the second half, all from the free throw line. Pine Creek falls to 7-6.
Hays will play in the 4th place game at 1:00 on Saturday.
The game will be aired on 101.9 The Bull with a 12:40 pregame show. Video will be available at Hays Post.