The Hays High girls got an early season test against one of the best programs Kansas has to offer. Washburn Rural entered the Hays City Shootout semifinals as the #1 ranked team in 6A and defending 6A champs.
Girls
Hays 37 - #1-6A Washburn Rural 33
A 13-0 run during the first and second quarter and two late baskets propelled Hays to a 37-33 win over the Junior Blues.
Rural raced out to an 8-2 lead before Hays settled in and began their 12-0 run that lasted into the second quarter and resulted in a 15-8 lead. The Indians would maintain the lead and knock down four free throws in the final two minutes of the first half for a 22-14 lead a the break.
Highlights
The Indians kept possession of the lead through the third quarter but were outscored 14-7 over the eight minutes. Rural eventually took the lead on a three pointer at 33-31 with 2:25 left in the game. Hays scored the only remaining points of the game. Carly Lang found Katie Linenberger for game tying basket at 33 points and then Jillyan Sheldon at 35-33. Molly Martin was fouled after a miss by Rural and knocked down both sides of a one and one opportunity for a 37-33 victory.
Carly Lang led the Indians with 11 points. Seven of the eight Indians that played scored in the game where they outrebounded Rural 23-11. Zoe Canfield led Rural with 13 points.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays moves into the tournament finals for the first time since 2017 where they will face Arkansas power Northside High School who won in the finals last year.
Boys
Hays 54 - #7-6A Free State 59
It was a rematch of the 2021 Hays City Shootout finals during the 2022 semifinals between Hays and #7-6A Lawrence Free State.
Free State opened the game on a 10-3 run over the first six minutes which included nine Hays turnovers. The Indians though found some rhythm late in the quarter closed the gap down to 12-10 on a 7-3 run.
Hays took their first lead at the free throw line where they scored their last six points of the second quarter and built a 25-22 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Hays put back a missed shot to start the third quarter and built their biggest lead of the game at 31-26. That is when Free State caught fire and outscored the Indians 20-5 over the next seven minutes for a 46-36 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Hays closed the gap down to four on one occasion in the second half but never got any closer, falling 59-54.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Jack Weimer scored a career high 20 and Kyreese Groen added 11. Zeek Brown led Free State with 15. Hays falls to 1-1 and will play Hugoton for third place on Saturday. Free State moves onto the tournament championship for a second straight year and will faceoff with Olathe West.