As rivalries go, there’s few better than Great Bend versus Hays.
The Great Bend 8th-grade girls basketball surprised Hays Middle School with a sweep, clinching the No. 1 seed in the MSWAC league tournament in the A and B divisions.
Playing in their final home game of the season, the GBMS 8th grade girls took on Hays Middle School who came to Great Bend with an undefeated record.
“Every player on this team believed we could beat Hays,” said Kyle Jeffrey, Great Bend coach. “We played together and executed our plan right from the beginning.”
The B team survived 23-21 in a game that featured several lead changes. The girls (10-1, 7-0 league) earned the No. 1 seed at the B team MSWAC Tournament at Garden City.
The A-Team feeding on the energy of the B-Team game, took an 8-0 lead but Hays quickly closed the gap.
“We were having trouble containing the post for Hays in the first half so in the second half that was one of our goals,” Jeffrey said.
The Lady Panthers led 37-31 with 23 seconds left when Hays hit a three followed by a turnover, switching the momentum to Hays’ side. After a timeout, Great Bend earned a game-winning steal. With the 37-34 win, the A team (9-4, 6-1 league) earned the No. 1 seed in the MSWAC tournament.
“The girls were really excited they earned the No. 1 spot in the league tournament,” said coach Jeffrey.
Great Bend will play the No. 8 seeds in both tournaments.
GBMS A team—Steele Brack 14 points, Taryn Warren 10, Melyne Fletchall 6, Makenna Tinkler 4, Allyson Kaiser 2, Hanna Loomis 1.
GBMS B team—Jordan Turner 8, Arely Reyes 6, Yulisa Valdez 3, Emma Loomis 2, Joselin Pando 2, Daltrey Kurth 2.