By JAYCEE DALE
A buzzer-beating win against Abilene a night earlier apparently gave the Hays High School boys’ basketball team a shot of momentum.
What the Indians followed up with Friday night in a WAC contest against Dodge City was a dominating performance that led to a 47-25 victory and a share of the conference crown with Great Bend.
After leading 4-3 early, Hays High rolled to an 18-3 lead after the first quarter — thanks for suffocating defense.
That defensive intensity continued through the next eight minutes as well, as HHS built a 31-10 advantage at the break.
The third quarter featured more defensive domination from HHS. The Indians allowed Dodge City to score only eight points, pushing the margin to 42-18 entering the final period.
The Red Demons outscored HHS 7-5 in the final minutes, but by that time, the outcome already had been decided on the Indians’ Senior Night.
The win moved Hays High’s record to 14-6 overall and gave the Indians the No. 5 seed in the Class 5A West sub-state playoffs. HHS will host No. 12 Arkansas City (10-10) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the HHS gym.
A victory in Tuesday’s game would put the Indians in a sub-state title match against either Great Bend (16-4) or Salina Central (9-11) on Friday, with the winner of that game going to the Class 5A state tourney.
