By JAYCEE DALE
The Hays High School girls’ basketball team started out the third-place game with a strong first quarter.
But Manhattan was able to overcome Hays High’s solid start to win, 48-41.
HHS led 12-11 at the end of the first. Hays High played solid defense, making it hard for Manhattan to get into a rhythm on offense. Hays High went into the locker room leading 21-13 at half.
Manhattan came out fast to start the second half, using an 8–3 run to take a three-point lead in the middle of the third quarter. Both teams battled back and forth the entire quarter, but Hays High trailed 32-30 entering the final period.
Manhattan pulled ahead in the fourth quarter. Hays High trailed by four with two minutes left in the game. HHS trailed by six with 30 seconds remaining, but the Indians came up just short of a third-place finish in the Hays City Shootout.
HHS dropped to 1-2 and is set to play Colby on Dec. 17 at home.
Brooke Denning led HHS with 15 points. Tasiah Nunnery finished with another double-digit game, ending with 12 points.
