HAYS – Great Bend’s girls were playing without an injured starter and all-league Carley Brack was plagued by foul trouble and a swarming defense.
Carly Dreiling rode to the rescue with a career high 28 points, including 12 of 14 free throws to spark the Panthers to a 51-45 Western Athletic basketball victory over Hays High. The Panthers outscored Hays 12-1 in the final minutes to spoil the Indians’ Senior Night. The Panthers outscored the Indians 23-6 from the free throw line by working the ball inside and drawing fouls driving to the basket,
Dreiling scored nine points in the Panthers’ final stretch after Hays led 41-39 on Savannah Schneider’s score. Annie Mills and Brooklyn Burkhart contributed free throws and Kate Warren’s pass led to a Dreiling score for a 44-42 lead. Carley Brack and Warren added seven points apiece.
“Carly Dreiling willed us to the win,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “She worked hard from the start and drove the basketball to the basket. It was one of those special nights for her. She did a good job defensively inside.”
It was a 42-42 tie when Dreiling scored off Warren’s perfect pass for a 44-42 lead that started back-to-back inside scores.
The Panthers held the Indians to no field goals for several minutes.
“We grabbed some big rebounds and the girls got their hands on passes that led to turnovers,” Minton said. “When we stopped them defensively, that gave the girls confidence.”
Great Bend (11-9, 6-2 WAC) finishes runner-up to Liberal (16-4, 7-1 WAC) in the league. The Panthers will play its Class 5A substate opener March 1 at Wichita Carroll (16-4). Liberal (16-4) meets Arkansas City (5-15) in the second substate semifinal.
Hays High (11-9, 4-4 WAC) missed a chance to tie for second place. Brooke Denning scored 15 points.
When the season started, Hays High’s girls dominated Great Bend 50-35 at the Hays City Shootout.
PANTHERS 51, HAYS 45
GB 11 16 12 12 – 51
Hays 14 14 8 9 – 45
GREAT BEND—Carly Dreiling 8-14 12-14 28; Carley Brack 2-5 3-6 7; Kate Warren 3-7 1-2 7; Annie Mills 1-6 2-2 4; Brooklyn Burkhart 0-0 3-4 3; Shailey Clark 0-1 1-2 1; Sarah Mehlhaff 0-0 1-2 1; Allison Neeland 0-3 0-0 0; Totals 14-36 23-32 51.
HAYS—Denning 5-11 1-1 15; Keller 1-7 2-4 4; Schneider 3-12 1-2 7; Dale 0-1 0-0 0; Robben 2-6 0-1 4; Hutchison 0-2 1-2 1; Nunnery 3-11 1-2 8; Leiker 2-11 0-0 6; Totals 16-61 6-12 45.
3-point goals—GB 0-7 (Mills 0-1, Neeland 0-1, Brack 0-2, Dreiling 0-3); HH 7-24 (Denning 4-7, Leiker 2-5, Nunnery 1-5, Hutchison 0-2, Robben 0-2, Schneider 0-3).

WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Liberal 7-1 16-4
Great Bend 6-2 11-9
Hays High 4-4 11-9
Dodge City 2-6 6-14
Garden 1-7 5-15

THURSDAY
Liberal 44, Dodge City 41

FRIDAY
Great Bend 51, Hays High 45