By JAYCEE DALE
The Hays High School boys’ basketball team started WAC play Saturday with a victory over Liberal.
Improving to 2-0 in conference play wouldn’t be easy Tuesday night against rival Great Bend.
But the Indians made the plays needed down the stretch to come away with a 64-62 victory over the Panthers to improve to 2-0 in WAC play.
Hays High was able to overcome an early technical foul in the first quarter to lead 18-12 after the first eight minutes of play. The Indians were able to keep the lead the entire second quarter despite Great Bend keeping the game close. HHS went into the locker room with a 35-29 lead.
Dalyn Schwarz picked up his fourth foul of the game early in the third quarter, but Hays High didn’t give up its lead. Entering the final period, HHS led 47-42.
Schwarz was whistled for questionable foul at the beginning of the fourth quarter, causing him to foul out. That helped Great Bend’s offense get back into the game and trail by only one with five minutes to go.
The Panthers then took control, moving out to a 56-52 lead with 3:30 remaining.
A missed free throw by Jace Linenberger and putback by Dylan Ruder got the Indians within 56-55 with 3:15 left in the game. Hays High regained a three-point lead with 1:45 remaining, but Great Bend tied it at 59-59 at the 1:15 mark.
With less than a minute to play, Hays High inched out to a 62-59 advantage.
Great Bend used free throws to pull within 62-61 with 41 seconds to play.
Ruder grabbed a rebound and scored on a putback, making it 64-61 in only 13 seconds to go.
TJ Nunnery was whistled for a foul on Alex Schremmer, sending the Panthers to the free-throw line with 0.7 seconds left.
Great Bend missed the second free throw, allowing the Indians to escape with the two-point victory.
Nunnery led the Indians with 18 points, and Ruder chipped in 13.
Hays High will be at Garden City on Friday for another WAC game.
