HAYS - Hays and Great Bend met for the third time on the season and for the second time in five days. Each team had claimed a home win in the regular season. This time the victor moved on to the sub-state championship on Saturday.
A career high 15 points on five three pointers by Devin Schmidtberger led Hays to a 46-42 win over the Panthers and give the Indians a spot in the sub-state championship Saturday.
Devin Schmidtberger hit back-to-back threes to open the first quarter for an early 6-0 Indian lead. Great Bend got within two points twice at 6-4 and 8-6 before Hays pulled out to a 14-6 lead. That eight point advantage would be the largest of the game for either team.
Great Bend scored six straight to end the first quarter and start the second to close within two points. The Panthers trailed by two four different times in the second quarter but could not tie the game or take the lead. Hays held onto a 20-18 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Great Bend used a six point spurt in the third quarter for a 26-24 edge and their first lead of the game. The lead would swap hands three more times before Hays took a 33-30 advantage to the fourth quarter.
Neither team led by more than two points until Hays took a 42-39 lead with 1:21 left on a pair of free throws. Great Bend banked in a three pointer to tie the game at 42 with 40 seconds remaining.
Hays missed a jumper in the final seconds but Great Bend landed on the baseline with the rebound. That allowed the Indians to use a timeout to set up their final play which Jack Weimer swished from the left corner for a 45-42 lead.
Kyzer Fox stole the ensuing inbound and hit one of two free throws for the 46-42 win.
Coach Sean Dreiling
Hays was led by the 15 points of Devin Schmidtberger, his first career double figure game in 49 career contests. Jack Weimer scored 14. Great Bend was led by Carter Coombs with 10 points.
Great Bend's season ends at 11-10. Hays improves to 13-8 and travels to Wichita Saturday to face 20-1 Kapaun who beat Valley Center 84-40.