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Great Bend splits with rival Hays High
spt jf GB basketball
Great Bend High Schools Kody Crosby (3) fights for rebounding position during Friday nights game against Hays High. - photo by COURTESY PHOTO Janet Fleske

Great Bend erased a 7-point deficit with a 21-6 scoring burst for a 62-51 Western Athletic Conference victory over Hays High Friday. The Panthers converted 21 of 30 free throws to outscore the Indians by 14 points.
Carley Brack led the Panthers with 18 points and Camryn Dunekack and Carly Dreiling each added 10 points. Dunekack ended the first half with a 3-pointer. The Panthers capped the 21-6 scoring run with back-to-back baskets by Brooklyn Burkhart for a 49-41 lead.
The Panthers (12-8, 6-2 WAC) finish second in the league behind Dodge City and clinch the fifth seed in the Class 5A substate. The Panthers will play at Maize next Thursday in the Class 5A substate.
Hays High (7-13, 2-6 WAC) was paced by freshman sensation Savannah Schneider with 15 points and Audra Schmeidler added 10 points.

Hays High 7 21 13 10 — 51
Great Bend 15 11 21 15 — 62
HH—Savannah Schneider 15, Schmeidler 10, Dinkel 8, Steckel 5, Leiker 4, George 4, Hutchinson 3, Kleweno 2.
GB—Carley Brack 18, Dreiling 10, Dunekack 10, Wraren 8, Welsch 8, Burkhart 4, Kottas 3, Ireland 1.

HAYS 69,
GREAT BEND 43
Trey Ibarra had Great Bend rolling with an 11-point first half on Senior Night. But Hays High took control with three consecutive 3-pointers in a 23-point second quarter for a 69-43 victory that clinched a share of the Western Athletic Conference basketball title with Liberal.
Great Bend (4-16, 2-6 WAC) led 15-11 after the first quarter behind Ibarra’s 14 points and Brayden Smith added first-half eight points. The Panthers had the Indians in first-half foul trouble when they stopped attacking the basket. The No. 8 seeded Panthers play at No. 1 seed Goddard Eisenhower in Class 5A substate play Wednesday.
Hays High (16-4, 6-2 WAC) clinched the 500th career coaching victory for Hays High coach Rick Keltner. Hays High will play Buhler in the Class 4A Ulysses substate. Isaiah Nunnery scored 20 points. The Indians finished the first half with a 16-3 scoring run and started the second half with a 16-4 scoring run for a 50-29 lead.
Shane Berens dominated with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Hays High 11 23 16 19 — 69
Great Bend 15 10 6 12 — 43
HH—Berens 22, Isaiah Nunnery 20, Winter 8, Young 6, Jacobs 4, Dryden 4, Altman 3, Hill 2.
GB—Ibarra 14, Brayden Smith 8, Murray 5, Takota Esfeld 5, Elliott 5, Crosby 4, Perry 2.