COLBY - Both the Hays basketball teams made an appearance in the semifinals of the Orange & Black Classic in Colby on Friday afternoon. The girls team faced off against #1-3A Goodland in a rematch of last year's semifinals that was a double overtime win by the Cowgirls. The boys game featured last year's tournament championship between Hays and Olathe North that Hays won.
Girls
Hays 37 - #1-3A Goodland 44
Hays had opportunities to end the state's second longest winning streak but fall to Goodland 44-37 in a physical battle that saw 55 free throw attempts.
The early part of the game saw the two teams tied at three and five before Goodland scored seven straight points for a 12-5 lead in the second quarter. The Indians trimmed the lead to two points twice but could not take the lead before halftime.
Highlights
Hays tied the game at 16 less than a minute into the third quarter and were down 25-24 with just over two minutes left in the quarter. The Indians had the ball on four possessions with an opportunity to take the lead but missed two shots and turned it over three times.
Goodland maintained the led into the fourth quarter. Hays took the lead at 32-31 on a pair of free throws by Carly Lang. The Cowgirls scored on their next possession before putting Hays back at the free throw line where the Indians tied the game but an Indian lane violation took away a second made attempt for the lead with 3:34 remaining.
Hays did not make a field goal rest of the way and scored just four points. Goodland made 9 of their final 11 free throws for a 44-37 win.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays falls to 7-4. Goodland remains undefeated at 11-0. Carly Lang led the Indians with 14. Fort Hays State basketball commit Talexa Weeter scored 20 for Goodland, making 12 of 16 free throws.
Boys
Hays 28 - #6-6A Olathe North 39
A season low in points kept Hays from a third straight Orange & Black Championship game, losing 39-28 against Olathe North.
Things started well for Hays scoring the first six points of the game while it took nearly four minutes for North to score for the first time. Once the Eagles got onto the board they tied the game at 10 points through the first eight minutes.
Hays fell behind 15-11 but held the Eagles without any points for the final 4:30 of the first half. The Indians scored seven points during that stretch for a 18-15 lead.
Highlights
The Indians held a brief five point lead at 20-15 early in the third quarter. They continued to lead 20-17 but could not score on the next seven possession leading still by three.
Hays still led 23-21 into the fourth quarter. The Indians twice responded after falling behind. The last time Hays hit a three for a 28-26 lead with 4:30 remaining. That would the final points of the night for the Indians. North finished the game on a 13-0 run, eight of those points from the free throw line for the 39-28 final.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays falls to 5-6 and will play for 3rd place at 2:30 on Saturday. Olathe North is 9-1.