Hays High continued their early season play with their first conference games of the season, traveling to Liberal on Tuesday
Girls
#8-5A Hays 77 - #6-6A Liberal 50
Liberal was the first team to put Hays into a deficit scoring the first two points of the game on a pair of free throws. It was the only time the Indians trailed on their way to a 77-50 win. Hays scored the next eight points to lead 8-2. Liberal responded with five straight points but never took the lead.
The Indians went on a 15-2 first quarter run to push their advantage to 23-9 with two minutes left in the first quarter. Hays led 25-12 at the first quarter break then added the first two points of the second quarter to lead by 15.
Liberal slowly chipped away at the lead and closed within five before Hays led 38-31 at halftime.
Highlights
Hays was never threatened in the second half outscoring Liberal by 20. A 12-2 third quarter run built the Indian advantage to 22 with 1:20 left. Hays led 59-42 after three quarter then outscored Liberal 18-8 in the fourth for the 77-50 win.
Coach Len Melvin
Zoe Winter led the Indians with a season high 13 points. Shamari Lewis led Liberal at 19 points.
The Indians are 4-0, 1-0. Liberal drops to 2-1, 0-1. Hays has won 12 straight Western Athletic Conference games. The 77 points is the most scored by Hays since 73 points in 2019.
Jenna Schmeidler 8; Annie Humphrey 3; Katie Linenberger 10; Molly Martin 9; Kenlee Winter 10; Morgan Armbruster 0; Jaysa Roa 3; Kinslee Newell 0; Riley Dreher 5; Lynsi Kanak 8; Molly Buckles 9; Zoe Winter 13; Liz Cunningham 0; Rylen Harrington 0.
Boys
Hays 70 - Liberal 34
Hays scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed on their way to a 70-34 win on the road over Liberal.
The Redskins never got closer than three at 7-4. A 10-3 run midway through first quarter put the Indians up 17-7 with a minute left in the quarter.
Hays led 19-8 after one quarter and scored the first four points of the second for a 23-8 advantage. The Indians led by 17 twice in the second quarter. The second time was 29-12 with 5:00 left before halftime. The Indians though didn't score for the next four minutes.
Their defense though gave up just five points in that same stretch. Hays led 36-20 at halftime after a 7-4 spurt to end the half.
Highlights
Hays was never threatened in the second half. The Indians outscored Liberal 24-7 in the third quarter. They hit five of eight threes in that stretch.
The continuous clock fourth quarter saw Hays empty their bench and win 70-34.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays was led by the 17 of Dawson Ruder who has scored in double figures in all four games. The Indians are 3-1, 1-0. Liberal drops to 1-2, 0-1.
The Indians play at home on Friday against Junction City.
Carter Lan 4; Johnny Cano 10; Trace Jacobs 6; Cooper Lindenmeyer 2; Brogan Albers 0; Trey Oakley 3; Tiger Johnson 14; Brody Harmoney 2; Izaac Fox 7; Noah Smalley 0; Brecken Otte 2; Dawson Ruder 17; Alex Loving 4.