BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtrribune.com
It was Senior Night, but underclassmen Sadie Spray and Emilee Hall sparked a shocking 48-45 upset over No.9 state-ranked Hays High Friday. Hall scored a career high 19 points and Spray added 16 points to hold off the Indians' fourth-quarter rally before a rowdy home crowd.
The Indians paid for fouling the Panthers' two best clutch players. Spray sank 8 of 8 free throws and Hall converted 9 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Panthers converted 20 of 26 free throws to offset a 21-0 scoring disadvantage from 3-point range.
A 3-pointer by Hays' Claire Humphrey with no defensive pressure sliced the lead to 46-45, but Hall made two free throws for a 48-45 lead. Carly Lang misfired on a final tying desperation 3-pointer.
It marked the Panthers' first victory over a state-ranked team since March 13, 2014 when they upset Topeka Seaman 60-46 at the 5A state tournament. Great Bend (7-13, 2-6 WAC) travels to Wichita Carroll (17-3) at 6 p.m. Wednesday for 5A playoff basketball. Andover High (12-8) meets Maize High (11-9) in the second semifinal.
Every point and every play mattered. Panther reserve Daltry Kurth was the Panthers' unsung heroine with two clutch free throws. Makenzie Premer dished out several assists and Hall threaded a pass to Spray for a basket.
"It took all the little things and every quarter," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "I'm proud of our team because it took a lot of people. Our seniors stepped up and played."
Spray sparked stifling defense by blocking a 3-point attempt by Jersey Johnson and holding her to 2 of 13 shooting. Hall scored 13 of her career high 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Indians made 7 of 25 from long range, including a pair of 3-pointers by Molly Martin and 3-pointers by Aleyia Ruder and Claire Humphrey in the final quarter.
"Give Hays credit because they hit a lot of 3s,"Beck said. "One key was we didn't let them get second-chance points. We rebounded the basketball."
Hays (12-8, 4-4 WAC) defeated the Panthers 41-32 and 47-33 in the first two meetings. Johnson, Martin and Jillyan Sheldon each scored nine points. The Indians made 8 of 18 free throws.
Hays High 5 11 9 20 – 45
Great Bend 6 10 11 21 – 48
HAYS HIGH (12-8, 4-4)—Johnson 2-13 4-4 9, Sheldon 4-6 1-2 9, Martin 3-10 0-0 9, Lang 2-5 2-4 7, Ruder 2-8 0-5 5, Linenberger 1-3 1-3 3, Humphrey 1-1 0-0 3, Totals 1546 8-18 45.
GREAT BEND (7-13, 2-6)—Hall 5-13 9-12 19, Spray 4-6 8-8 16, Warren 3-8 1-1 7, Kaiser 1-3 0-3 2, Emma Loomis 1-2 0-0 2, Kurth 0-0 2-2 2, Fletchall 0-4 0-0 0, Premer 0-4 0-0 0, Totals 14-40 20-26 48.
3-pointers—H 7-25 (Martin 3-7, Humphrey 1-1, Ruder 1-4, Lang 1-4, Johnson 1-9), GB 0-6 (Kaiser 0-1, Warren 0-1, Premer 0-2, Fletchall 0-2).
