Hays High opened the second day of the Orange and Black Classic in Colby with the girls and boys playing in the semifinals. The girls played state ranked Goodland while the boys faced Beloit.
Girls
#4-3A Goodland 57 - Hays 55
Hays used a 11-2 run in the first quarter to build a seven point lead at 11-4. Goodland used the final two minutes of the first quarter to go on a 7-0 spurt that tied the game up at 11 through the first eight minutes.
Goodland took their first lead during a five minute scoring drought for Hays. The Cowgirls led by four on three separate occasions and by two at halftime 21-19. Hays had a chance to tie the game with 2:30 left before halftime but missed free and an offensive put back.
Highlights
Hays led a majority of the second half after grabbing the lead at 25-22 with six minutes left in the third quarter. The Indians led by five before the two teams traded three pointers in the final ten seconds for a 36-31 score heading to the fourth quarter.
Hays led 39-33 with six minutes to go in regulation and missed a pair of shots to extend the lead. Goodland took advantage of the situation with a 11-2 run that gave the Cowgirls a 44-41 lead. The Indians tied the game with a three pointer with a minute remaining and Goodland couldn't get a clean look away for overtime tied at 44.
Hays made five of six free throws in the first overtime and Goodland hit two field goals and a free throw for a 49 all tie, which forced a second overtime. Hays ever led in the second overtime and was only tied once at 51. Goodland led 55-54 after the Indians sixth three pointer of the night. Goodland made two free throws at 57-54 and Hays only managed a single point on their final possession, leaving Goodland with a 57-55 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays was led by 15 points by both Carly Lang and Jillyan Sheldon, career highs for both players. Molly Martin added 10. Goodland was led by Talexa Weeter with 16. Emma Lehman, Olivia Lehman and Lindsey Cure each added 11.
Hays falls to 6-5 and will play for third place at 2:30 in the auxiliary gym against either Colby or Life Prep Academy. Goodland will play for the championship against the winner of those two teams and is now 11-1 on the year.
Boys
#7 Hays 49 - Beloit 34
Hays trailed only one time against Colby on their road to the championship game. The game was anything but a gimme though. Hays trailed 4-3 before a 12-0 run gave the Indians a 15-4 advantage in the first quarter.
Beloit fired right back with a 9-0 stretch while Hays went silent for over four minutes. The Trojans had three possession to tie or take the lead trailing 15-13 before Hays took a 23-17 lead into the locker room.
Highlights
The Indians led by double figures early in the third quarter and Beloit cut the lead down to eight after the third quarter and pulled within in five at 37-32 with 5:15 remaining.
Hays pulled Beloit out of their zone and got to the basket to score over the final five minutes for a 49-34 victory.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Carson Kieffer scored a career high 2o. Jace Linenberger added 14.
Hays improves to 10-1 and will play either Colby or Olathe North in the championship game at 6:00 on Saturday. Beloit falls to 9-3 and will play in the third place game.