BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Hays High point guard Brooke Denning set the tone with flawless passing and ballhandling.
The Indians wasted no time, dictating the tempo with aggressive fullcourt defense while attacking the basket offensively in a dominating 64-41 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory over Great Bend. The Indians led 38-14 at halftime.
The Indians (4-4, 1-1 WAC) showed excellent balance keyed by Denning’s excellent passing to go with 12 points. The Indians placed Savannah Schneider (12) and Jaycee Dale (11) in double figures.
The Panthers (1-8, 0-2 WAC) gained a measure of momentum by outscoring the Indians 27-26 after halftime. The Panthers showed extra fight by battling the Indians even after halftime.
The Panthers seem to need to be behind by 20 points before they kick up their intensity and outplay their opponent. The undersized Panthers had no other way to play than all-out effort.
Super sparkplug Sydney Unruh keyed the second-half stretch with a trio of steals and a score on Alyssa Herter’s assist. Candice Smith dished to Halle Latham for another nifty assist. Jenna Mauler highlighted a 12-point night with a nice driving layup.
“We need to come out and play that way from the start, and it’s a different ballgame,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “At times, we show we’re capable. We play stretches where we put our game together. But we also show our lack of playing experience at times.“
Seven Indians scored first-half points and they hit 10 free throws. The Indians effectively overpowered the shorter Panthers by drawing fouls to shoot 14 free throws.
The Indians converted several of the Panthers’ 16 turnovers into easy baskets and extra possessions.
“We were proud of the effort. The girls came out and executed,” said Hays High coach Alex Hutchins. “We were one player away from having everyone score.”
Hays High 18 20 14 12 – 64
Great Bend 6 8 14 13 — 41
HAYS HIGH (4-3, 1-0)—Denning 4-6 3-3 12; Schneider 5-10 2-2 12; Dale 4-5 3-6 11; Leiker 2-6 1-1 5; Hutchison 1-5 3-4 5; Schaffer 2-4 1-3 5; Nunnery 2-11 0-0 4; Ruder 2-4 1-2 5, McCrae 1-3 0-0 2, Green 0-2 2-2 2, Lummus 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 23-57 16-23 64
GREAT BEND (1-8, 0-2)—Mauler 4-6 2-4 12; Sydney Unruh 1-8 5-6 8; Smith 3-5 1-2 7; Latham 2-6 0-2 5;Kaylee Unruh 2-5 0-0 4; Schroeder 1-4 0-0 3; Harbaugh 0-4 2-2 2; Warren 0-2 0-1 0; Keller 0-2 0-0 0, Herter 0-4 0-0; Wasinger 0-3 0-0 0; Brack 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 13-52 10-17 41
3-pointers—HH 2-10 (Schaffer 1-1, Denning 1-2, Nunnery 0-1, Green 0-1, Leiker 0-1, Hutchison 0-1, Lummus 0-1, McCrae 0-2), GB 5-20 (Mauler 2-4, Latham 1-2, Schroeder 1-3, S. Unruh 1-6, Warren 0-1, Keller 0-1, Brack 0-1, Herter 0-2)
WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Liberal 2-0 8-0
Garden City 1-1 6-2
Hays High 1-1 4-3
Dodge City 0-0 4-4
Great Bend 0-2 1-8
FRIDAY, JAN. 11—Liberal at Dodge City; Garden City at Hays High
LIBERAL (2-0, 8-0)—W Holcomb 66-19; W Guymon, Okla. 44-20; W Dumas, Texas 51-31; W Wichita Trinity 51-36; W Scott City 60-26; W Perryton, Texas 59-38; W *Hays High 61-42; W *Garden City;1-11—*at Dodge City 53-22; 1-17-19—at Salina Tournament; 1-25—*Great Bend; 2-5—Guymon, Okla.; 2-7—*at Dodge City; 2-8—*at Hays High; 2-12—Cimarron; 2-15—*at Great Bend; 2-19—*Garden City
GARDEN CITY (1-1, 6-2)—W Guymon, Okla. 59-50; W Coronado, Colo. 39-22; W Palmer Ridge, Colo. 46-27; W Holcomb 43-29; L Deer Creek, Colo. 45-52; W Junction City 64-41; W *Great Bend 47-29; L *Liberal 22-53; 1-11—*at Hays High; 1-17—at Valley Center Tournament; 1-22—at Ulysses; 1-29—*Dodge City; 2-1—at Guymon, Okla.; 2-5—Hugoton; 2-8—*Great Bend; 2-12—*at Dodge City; 2-15—*Hays High; 2-19—*at Liberal
HAYS HIGH (1-1, 4-3)—W Great Bend 79-44; L Manhattan 39-49; L Millwood, Okla. 40-57; W Colby 47-44; W Pratt; L *Liberal 42-61; W *Great Bend 64-41; 1-11—*Garden City; 1-17-19—at Colby Tournament; 1-25—Salina Central; 1-29—at Salina South; 2-1—*Dodge City; 2-5—*Great Bend; 2-8—*Liberal; 2-12—at Abilene; 2-15—*at Garden City; 2-19—*Dodge City; 2-22--Abilene
DODGE CITY (4-4, 0-0)—W Junction City 55-22; L Newton 40-53; L Maize 44-61; W Hugoton 50-46; W Guymon, Okla. 45-31; L McPherson 52-66; W Cimarron 54-40; L Ulysses 31-42; 1-11—*Liberal; 1-17-19—at Dodge City Tournament; 1-25—*Great Bend; 1-29—*at Garden City; 2-1—*at Hays High; 2-5—Ulysses; 2-7—*at Liberal; 2-12—*Garden City; 2-15—*at Great Bend; 2-19—*Hays High
GREAT BEND (0-2, 1-8)—L Hays High 44-79; L St. Thomas Aquinas 41-71; L Hays-TMP 50-53; W Junction City 60-25; L Salina Central 42-71; L Hutchinson 48-50; L Buhler 45-53; L *Garden City 29-47; L *Hays 41-64; 1-24-26—at Emporia Tournament; 1-25—*at Dodge City; 1-29—at Wamego; 2-1—*Liberal; 2-5—*at Hays High; 2-8—*at Garden City; 2-12—Hays-TMP; 2-15—*Dodge City; 2-16—*at Liberal
Hays High
