GARDEN CITY - Hays High was on the road Friday in Garden City for the first of three consecutive Western Athletic Conference games to end the regular season.
Girls: Hays 65, Garden City 49
Hays scored a season high 65 points in a 65-49 road win in Garden City.
It took a little while for the Indians to get their offense kicked into gear as Garden City jumped out to a 10-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Once Hays started hitting shots they didn't stop, ending the first quarter on a 13-5 run for a 19-13 lead.
Garden City cut into the Hays lead at 21-15 before the Indians erupted for a six minute run where they outscored the Buffaloes 18-5. Five different players contributed to the run and 39-20 halftime lead.
Highlights
Like they did in Hays, Garden City mounted a comeback in the third quarter and got within 13 at 45-32 after trailing by 22 in the second quarter. Hays scored the last bucket of the third quarter and first six points of the fourth quarter to establish control of the game once again at 53-32.
The Indians made all 12 of their fourth quarter free throw attempts and 20 of 22 in the game for the 65-49 victory.
Coach Len Melvin
Molly Martin led three Indians in double figures at 17 points. Carly Lang scored 13 as did Jillyan Sheldon which matched a season high. Garden City got 17 points from Aileen Becerril and KJ Pinchon.
Hays improves to 11-7 and 3-3 in conference play. Garden City falls to 6-13 and 2-5.
Boys: #4-6A Graden City 56, Hays 48
Garden City held Hays to just two points over the final 2:55 on their way to a 56-48 win and the Western Athletic Conference title.
Hays and Garden City were tied seven times in the first half and exchanged the lead three times. Garden City led 11-9 after one quarter and 15-11 in the second quarter.
Hays answered with a 7-0 run for an 18-15 advantage which ended up being their largest lead of the game. Garden City finished the half on a 9-2 run over 3:22 for a 24-20 advantage.
Highlights
The two teams exchanged the lead four more times and were tied twice in the third quarter. The final lead change came when Garden City went up 32-29 with 3:55 left in the third quarter. The Buffaloes once again led by four after the third quarter 39-35.
Hays could never regain the lead. The Indians trailed by seven before hitting three of four three pointers to counter four Garden City points to pull within two at 48-46 with 2:55 remaining.
Hays would only score two points on a pair of free throws rest of the way and miss seven field goals. Garden City missed all four of their field goal attempts but made 8 of 12 free throws for the 56-48 victory.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays drops to 10-8 and 3-3 in conference play. Chason VanDerWege led the Indians with a second consecutive double-double at 13 points and 10 rebounds. Garden City was led by 21 points from Jace Steinmetz. The Buffaloes are 18-1 and 7-0 in conference play.
Hays heads back out on the road to Dodge City on Tuesday. They will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Great Bend on Friday the 24th.