By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
HAYS - Hays High opened the season with the 42nd annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout on Thursday. The girls and boys teams both took on Newton.
GIRLS: #9 Hays 67, Newton 29
Hays scored in the first six seconds of the game and never trailed the visiting Railers. The Indians opened the game on a 14-2 run and led by as many as 13 in the first quarter.
The Indians pushed their advantage as high as 19 before halftime at 35-16. Hays had a rare cold stretch in the game and scored just three points in the final three minutes of the half to lead 38-21 at the break.
Highlights
Hays scored 28 points in the third quarter including six of their eight three pointers in the game. Morgan Armbruster and Jenna Schmeidler combined for 22 of those third quarter points. The continuous clock fourth quarter closed the game at 67-29.
Molly Martin passed Savannah Schneider for career steals at 165. It is the second career record owned by Martin as she set the school record for made threes in a career last season.
Coach Len Melvin
Hays will play Hugoton in the semifinals at 6:30 Friday evening. The Eagles beat Olathe East 41-35.
Jenna Schmeidler 19; Annie Humphrey 0; Katie Linenberger 10; Molly Martin 11; Morgan Armbruster 14; Jaysa Roa 0; Kinslee Newell 0; Riley Dreher 0; Lynsi Kanak 1; Molly Buckles 6; Zoe Winter 4; Liz Cunningham 0; Rylen Harrington 0; Brynlee Rupp 0.
BOYS: Hays 48, Newton 43
Hays trailed just briefly in each the first and second half on their way to a season opening win over Newton.
The two teams locked up the score at two, four and six before Hays scored five straight points for an 11-6 lead five minutes in. The Indians led 19-12 to start the second quarter when Newton scored five quick points to close within two.
A 7-0 run pushed the Hays lead to nine at 26-17 before Newton rattled off eight quick points to crawl within one point. The Railers had three chances to take the lead before halftime but were turned away.
Highlights
Newton did take a short-lived lead in the third quarter at 29-28. Seven seconds later Dawson Ruder converted a conventional three point play for a 31-29 Hays lead.
The Indians built on that momentum to gain a 12 point edge with 5:15 left in the game. The Indians though didn't score a field goal for the remainder of the game. But their defense did enough to hold off the Railers. Newton pulled within a single possession at 46-43 with 11 seconds remaining. The Indians made half of their four free throws to win 48-43.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Dawson Ruder scored 15 to lead Hays in the victory. The Indians will face Hugoton in the semifinals Friday evening.
Carter Lang 0; Johnny Cano 5; Trace Jacobs 2; Cooper Lindenmeyer 3; Trey Oakley 5; Tiger Johnson 8; Izaac Fox 10; Dawson Ruder 15.