By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post Sports
HAYS - The Hays High Indians honored their senior basketball players on Tuesday evening between the varsity games with Dodge City. The girls' and boys' team each have six seniors this season. Both teams went on to pick up blowout wins over the Red Demons.
Girls: #4 Hays 55, Dodge City 20
Hays never trailed in their 26th consecutive Western Athletic Conference victory, defeating Dodge City 55-20.
The Indians scored the first 11 points of the games. Dodge City (8-14, 1-6) managed just four first quarter points on a free throw six minutes into the game and their first field goal with thirty seconds showing on the first quarter clock.
Hays (20-1, 7-0) led 11-4 heading into the second quarter and had three more double-digit leads before the Red Demons again cut the lead to single figures at 18-11. Brynlee Rupp knocked the Indians' only second quarter three pointer to spark a quick 7-0 run that pushed the advantage to 25-11 with a minute to go in the half.
Dodge City managed the last two points of the quarter for a 25-13 halftime score.
Highlights
Hays struggled to score in the first three-plus minutes of the third quarter. A Haley LaBarge three point play started the Indians' biggest run of the game. A 15-0 run spanned just under three minutes and gave Hays their biggest lead of the quarter at 40-16 when LaBarge capped the run with an offensive rebound and stick back.
Dodge City scored the first three points of the fourth quarter. It was their only fourth quarter points. Hays scored the next 14 points. Twelve of those points belonged to senior Rylan Harrington who canned four three pointers in the Indians' 55-20 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays made eight three pointers on the night and thirty-two over the last three games.
Rupp 5, Schmeidler 12, Humphrey 4, LaBarge 5, Koerner 0, Cunningham 0, Armbruster 0, Turner 3, Newell 2, Harrington 12, Buckles 3, Winter 9.
Boys: #9 Hays 68, Dodge City 35
Hays never trailed in their 68-35 win over Dodge City to capture a minimum share of the Western Athletic Conference title.
The Indians scored the first two points of the game and then was matched by Dodge City (10-12, 1-6) at 2-2. That was the only tie in the contest. Hays (17-4, 7-0) scored the next 16 points for a lead of 18-2. Dodge City didn't score for 5:30 before their second field goal of the quarter for a 18-4 game after eight minutes.
Hays built two 19 points leads in the second quarter. The first came at 30-11 when Brody Harmoney threw a pinpoint pass over top of the Dodge City zone for an alley-oop dunk to Izaac Fox. Fox was also fouled on the play and made the free throw for one of his four traditional three point plays on the night.
The second lead of 19 points came at halftime 37-18.
Highlights
Hays gave back some ground in the third quarter. The Red Demons outscored the Indians 11-8 in the frame and took the lead down to 13 at 42-29 with 1:20 left in the quarter. The Indians led 44-29 after three quarter and never let Dodge City gain any momentum in the fourth.
Hays led by 20 with 5:09 left in the game and then went on one final run. A 15-0 run that covered just over two minutes of game play got the continuous clock fourth quarter going in the 68-35 Indian victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays wins a minimum share of the Western Athletic Conference crown, their fifth in seven years. Dawson Ruder notched his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Fox led the way with 20 points.
Hays travels to Great Bend on Friday to finish the regular season.
Pfeifer 4, Burkholder 3, Homeier 4, Oakley 9, Harmoney 8, Schmidtberger 0, Fox 20, Smalley 1, Day 4, Ruder 13, Loving 2.