Hays High hit the road for their first sub-state championship game since 2019 as they visited #1 Salina Central Saturday evening. The Indians grabbed the eight seed with a 12-8 regular season and advance to the championship with a 37-35 win over Maize South. The Mustangs entered undefeated at 21-0 and the top seed in 5A West. Salina Central beat Hays 68-43 in last game of January.
Hays 33 - #1 Salina Central 63
Hays never had the lead as Central opened the game on a 7-1 run. The Indians closed the gap down to four points twice in the first quarter but missed on a good look at three each time. The Mustangs led 15-8 after one quarter and pushed the lead to nine early in the second.
Carly Lang knocked down a pair of free throws with 4:30 left before halftime at 22-14. The Indians wouldn't score again in the second quarter. The Mustangs closed out the time on a 12-0 run for a 34-14 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Hays didn't score for the first 2:45 of the third quarter before Jersey Johnson made a pair of free throws. The Indians went 8:35 between field goals from the second to third quarter while Central built their lead. The Mustangs led 53-26 after the third quarter and led by more than thirty in the fourth quarter for a continuous clock ending to the game at 63-33.
Coach Len Melvin
Molly Martin led the Indians with 12 points. Aubrie Kierscht scored a game high 29, which included five three pointers.
Hays ends their season at 13-9. It is the first winning season for the Indians since 2018-19. Salina Central moves on to the state tournament at 22-0.