HAYS — Great Bend’s girls were one play away from a miraculous 18-point comeback for first place against bitter rival Hays High.
The Indians converted a tying score by Tasiah Nunnery and outscored the Panthers 13-4 in overtime to escape with a 62-53 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory Tuesday. The Panthers committed seven turnovers in the 4-minute overtime.
The Panthers (2-5, 1-1 WAC) erased an 18-point deficit (34-16) with their best basketball of the season by outscoring the Indians 19-4 down the stretch for a 49-47 lead. Carley Brack scored two free throws for a 48-47 lead and Annie Mills made one free throw for a 49-47 lead. The Panthers converted 15 of 16 second-half free throws.

Nunnery set a screen on an inbounds play and was wide open for the tying bucket. Nunnery’s field goal tied the score at 49 and she blocked a game-winning attempt by Annie Mills.
Hays High’s Savannah Schneider scored two baskets and five points in overtime. But the Panthers’ ballhandling collapsed in overtime. Mattie Hutchison earned three straight steals in overtime.
“I was disappointed by the way we handled the basketball in overtime,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We have to be ready to play when we’re on the court.”
Brack (11), Mills (9), Shailey Clark (8) and Camryn Dunekack (8) led the Panthers.
Minton was pleased the Panthers showed mental toughness in a stunning 20-point turnaround after trailing by 18 points..
“I was very proud of the way the girls came back,” Minton said. “We wanted to dig in, do the small things and execute the fundamentals. They worked their way back in and took advantage of our chances.”
Schneider led Hays (7-1, 2-0 WAC) with 19 points and Mattie Hutchinson scored 11 points.

GB 5 9 16 19 4 – 53
HH 11 14 11 13 13 – 62
GB—Brack 2 6-7 11, Mills 2 5-6 9, Clark 3 2-2 8, Dunekack 3 2-2 8, Sydney Unruh 2 1-2 7, Mauler 1 2-2 5, Kaylee Unruh 1 0-0 3, Herter 0 2-2 2; Totals 14-47 20-23 53.
HH—Schneider 7 5-8 19, Hutchinson 3 4-5 11, Nunnery 3 3-8 10, Leiker 2 5-7 9, Dale 2 1-2 5, Robben 2 0-0 4, Denning 1 2-2 4; Totals 20 20-32 62.

WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Hays High... 2-0 7-1
Liberal.... 1-1 6-1
Great Bend.. 1-1 2-5
Dodge City.. 0-0 4-2
Garden City. 0-2 3-5
TUESDAY’S GAMES
*Hays High 62, Great Bend 53 (OT)
*Liberal 45, Garden City 21

WAC GIRLS
HAYS HIGH (2-0, 7-1)—W Olathe North 51-30; W Great Bend 57-26; L St. Thomas Aquinas 36-63; W Pratt 61-36; W Junction City 70-38; W Colby 44-19; W *Liberal 48-41; W *Great Bend 62-53 (OT); 1-12—*at Garden City; 1-23—Salina Central; 1-26-28—at McPherson Tournament; 1-30—Salina South; 2-2—*at Dodge City; 2-9—*at Liberal; 2-13—Abilene; 2-16—*Garden City; 2-20—*at Dodge City; 2-23—*at Great Bend

LIBERAL (1-1, 6-1)—W Holcomb 55-40; W Guymon, Okla. 49-25; W Hereford, Texas 58-37; W Borger, Texas 60-23; W Perryton, Texas 47-22; L *Hays High 41-48; W *Garden City 45-21; 1-12—*Dodge City; 1-13—at Classen, Okla.; 1-18-20—at Salina Tournament; 1-26—Hugoton; 2-2—*Great Bend; 2-6—Guymon, Okla.; 2-9—*Hays High; 2-13—at Cimarron; 2-17—*at Great Bend; 2-20—*Garden City; 2-22—*at Dodge City

GREAT BEND (1-1, 2-5)—W Wichita Life 51-47 (OT); L Hays 36-57; L Manhattan 41-65; L Junction City 63-69; L Hutchinson 41-50; W *Garden City 46-34; L *Hays High 53-62 (OT); 1-12—*Buhler; 1-16—*Dodge City; 1-25-27—*at Emporia Tournament; 1-30—Derby; 2-2—*at Liberal; 2-6—at McPherson; 2-9—*at Garden City; 2-13—at Hays-TMP; 2-16—*at Dodge City; 2-17—*Liberal; 2-23—*Hays High

DODGE CITY (0-0, 4-2)—W Junction City 46-39; L Manhattan 32-60; W Hugoton 44-43; W Goddard Eisenhower 47-26; L Guymon, Okla. 37-39; W Cimarron 36-34; 1-12—*at Liberal; 1-13—at Guymon, Okla.; 1-16—*at Great Bend; 1-25-27—at Newton Tournament; 1-30—*Garden City; 2-2—*Hays High; 2-6—at Ulysses; 2-9—Nickerson; 2-13—*at Garden City; 2-16—*Great Bend; 2-20—*at Hays High; 2-22—*Liberal

GARDEN CITY (0-2, 3-5)—L Canyon, Texas 20-68; L Abilene Wylie, Texas 38-56; L Wall, Texas 26-39; W Wichita Trinity 41-33; W Dumas, Texas 51-29; W Scott City 59-53; L *Great Bend 34-46; L *Liberal 21-45; 1-12—*Hays High; 1-18-20—at Valley Center Tournament; 1-16—Ulysses; 1-30—*at Dodge City; 2-2—at Guymon, Okla.; 2-6—at Hugoton; 2-9—*Great Bend; 2-13—*Dodge City; 2-16—*at Hays High; 2-20—*at Liberal