Hays and Dodge City met up for big Western Athletic Conference games in Dodge City on Friday night.
Girls
Hays 42 - #8-6A Dodge City 40
Hays went to Dodge City looking for a signature after losing each of the six games they had played against state ranked teams. They found that win with a buzzer beating shot.
Dodge City jumped out to a 9-0 lead taking advantage of early turnovers by the Indians. Hays responded with a 7-0 run and had the ball three times down 9-7 but couldn't tie or take the lead. The Red Demons went on a 10-5 run to take 19-12 lead, but the Indians responded with an 8-0 to take their first lead at 22-21. The advantage was short lived as Dodge City took a 23-22 lead to the locker room.
Highlights
The two teams swapped the lead four times in the third quarter leaving Dodge City with a 36-33 lead heading to the final eight minutes.
Dodge City took a 40-35 lead with 6:15 remaining in the game. They didn't score again. However, it looked as if Hays wouldn't take advantage still trailing by the same score with 1:20 left. Carly Lang hit a pair of free throws to close the gap down to 40-39. Dodge City missed a dagger three pointer setting up the Indians for a final opportunity, on that Aleyia Ruder put three the net at the buzzer for three points and a 42-40 win.
Coach Len Melvin
Per Dodge City play-by-play broadcaster Sean Boston, the win by Hays snaps a 21 game winning streak in the Dodge City High School Fieldhouse. Their last loss in that gym was 12/19/19.
Molly Martin scored 13. Ruder's buzzer beat ended her night with 11. Mataya Clark scored a career high 13 for Dodge City.
The Indians hit a career high seven three pointers.
Hays improves to 9-6 and is now in second play in the WAC at 3-2. #8-6A Dodge City falls to 13-3, 2-2. Hays is off for a week when they host Colby.
Boys
#3-5A Hays 53 - #4-6A Dodge City 34
Hays used a 6-0 spurt in the first quarter to take their second lead at 10-5 and kept the advantage through a low scoring first half. Hays led 10-7 after one quarter and held Dodge City to just one point over the first five minutes of the second quarter.
By the time the dust settled in the second quarter Hays took a 24-12 lead into the locker room.
Highlights
Hays did not score for the first 3:30 of the second half, but Dodge City made up only five points during that time closing the gap down to 24-17. The game was only that close one more time at 31-24 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
The Hays' defense never let up in the fourth quarter keeping Dodge City from making a field goal for nearly four and a half minutes while building their lead to twelve once again.
Hays made seven of eight free throws over the final two minutes, all by Carson Kieffer, to grab a 53-34 victory.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Jace Linenberger led all scoring with 23. Carson Kieffer recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Dodge City was led by Dawson Taylor with 11.
Hays improves to 14-1 and 5-0 in the WAC. Dodge City falls to 14-2 and 3-1. The Indians are off for a week when they host Colby