McPHERSON - Hays stepped out of Western Athletic Conference play when they traveled to McPherson on Tuesday to take on the state ranked Bullpups.
Girls: #2-4A McPherson 52, Hays 34
Hays was outscored 26-10 in the second and third quarters combined during a 52-34 loss to McPherson.
The game was tied twice at five and eight points but the Indians were never able to secure a lead. McPherson led 13-11 after one quarter with the Indians having three opportunities to tie or take the advantage.
Hays started the game 4-4 from the field but missed their next 11 attempts to end the first half down 21-15. Free throws kept the Indians in the game through the first half, making five of eight.
Highlights
McPherson controlled the third quarter outscoring Hays 18-6 and led by 18 going the fourth.
Hays scored a season low in points in the 52-34 loss.
Coach Len Melvin
It was a tough night shooting for Hays as they shot a season low field goal percentage and grabbed a season low 21 rebounds. Katie Linenberger led the Indians with 13 points. She was 9-10 from the stripe. Hays as a team made 15 of 18 free throw attempts.
McPherson was led by Karter Alvord with 17 and Jordan Sears at 16 points. The Bullpups are 13-2 on the year.
Hays falls to 9-6 and loses back-to-back games for just the second time. They host #9-6A Liberal Friday. It will be the seventh state ranked team Hays has face this season.
Boys: #3-4A McPherson 56, Hays 50
McPherson scored the first ten points of the game and held the lead for all but nine seconds on their way to 56-50 win over Hays.
Hays trailed by double figures four minutes into the game as the Bullpups scored the first ten points. Hays was still down seven at 16-9 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Indians trimmed the deficit down to 20-19 forcing McPherson to take a timeout. The Bullpups ended the half on a 6-2 spurt for a 26-21 halftime advantage.
Highlights
Hays again clawed back in the third quarter pulling within one point at 32-31 and again forcing a McPherson time out. The Bullpups scored seven straight for a 39-31 advantage and led 41-34 going to the fourth.
The Indians scored on their first three possessions of the fourth quarter to close within one at 41-40. Hays took their first lead with 2:35 left on a Jack Weimer three point play, but McPherson responded with their own just nine second later.
The Indians scored just two points on a pair of free throws over the final 2:35 as McPherson took the 56-50 victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays put three into double figures led by Jack Weimer with 14. Chason VanDerWege added 12 and Edwin Muller scored 11. McPherson also put three in double figures led by Cory Muehler at 12.
Hays falls to 8-7 while McPherson improves to 12-3.
Hays hosts Liberal on Friday.