By Dustin Armbruster
Hays Post Sports
The faces may change, but the goals are the same. Hays High graduated five seniors following one of the best seasons in program history. The Hays High Lady Indians made an appearance at the state tournament for the first time since 1996. They also recorded fifteen wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since a stretch of five straight from the 1982-83 season through the 1986-87 season. Hays was 22-1 last year.
Sixth year head coach Len Melvin has a question for his team. “Who is going to step up?” Of the returners All-State guard, sophomore, Jenna Schmeidler averaged 16 points per game. She was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a freshman. Senior Zoe Winter has signed with Southern Nazarene, a D2 in Oklahoma, to play basketball. Both played in all 23 games last season as did senior Molly Buckles and junior Morgan Armbruster. Senior Annie Humphrey appeared in 22 of the 23 games.
The Indians return 52% of their scoring and 48% of their rebounding from a season ago when they averaged 64 points and 31 rebounds per game.
One week into the season Melvin says the team is approximately four days ahead of the last few years in terms of install for the new season. While it might look a little different he says the identity of Hays High basketball is still defense. “We tell our girls this every day. Defense is still who we are. We have to be great defensively and they practice with that mentality.” Last season Hays forced their opponents into 23 turnovers per game and allowed just 32 points per game.
Hays High opens the season in their new facility with the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout on Thursday, December 4th. The Indians will open with the TMP Monarchs.
Between now and the tip-off of the season Melvin says his team needs to replicate the first week of practice. “If we have another two weeks of preparation like we did this week, we are going to be ready. That doesn’t mean we are going look great and run everything right, but we are going to be ready to play.”
The games between the Indians and Monarchs will be the first basketball games held on the Maroon gymnasium floor. The first two games of the tournament will be played in the Gold gym.