It was a one-sided matchup from the outset as Great Bend High School’s boys’ basketball team could not keep up with Hays High.
The Indians won 63-35 on Friday night at the Panther Fieldhouse.
“They’re a really good basketball team,” GBHS head coach Chris Battin said. “Our kids played hard. They continue to put forward a lot of effort. Unfortunately some shots didn’t fall early and kind of snowballed on us.”
Blake Sullivan knocked down the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer for Great Bend.
That was the last lead the Panthers would enjoy.
Hays strung together a series of short runs, taking advantage of some turnovers caused by a full-court press, as well as, missed Great Bend shots.
The Indians utilized their height advantage against Great Bend.
“We’re trying to battle in there against 6-foot-5 and 6-7,” Battin said, “with 6-2 and 6-foot. They’re just a good basketball team. There’s a reason that they’re the No. 1 team in the state.”
The Indians led 33-11 at halftime.
Great Bend matched Hays’ total in the third quarter, both teams finishing the eight-minute stretch with 17 points.
Dillon Reiser, who led the Panthers with eight points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored all of his points in the third period.
“I thought he stepped up after the half and knocked down some big shots for us,” Battin said. “I thought we played better in the third quarter. We still couldn’t get stops, but we were able to get some things done offensively, and we were able to take care of the ball.
“Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter, we went back to some old habits, and things didn’t go so well.”
Great Bend falls to 7-13 overall, 1-7 in the WAC.
The Panthers’ next matchup comes on Wednesday as they travel to Wichita to challenge Bishop Carroll. Both teams finished the season at 7-13. Great Bend is the fifth seed and Bishop Carroll is the fourth seed.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Western Athletic Conference

BOYS

Friday

At Great Bend
Panther Fieldhouse

Hays 63, Great Bend 35
HAYS (20-0, 8-0)
     Kyler Niernberger 1 1-2 3, Isaiah Nunnery 1 0-0 2, Clayton Riedel 4 0-0 8, Jordan Windholz 8 1-1 20, Lane Clark 2 3-4 9, Kenny Rounkles 1 0-0 2, Brady Werth 7 0-0 14, Kade Parker 2 0-0 5. Totals 26 5-7 63.
GREAT BEND (7-13, 1-7)
     Jack Westhoff 2 0-0 4, Trey Ibarra 2 0-2 4, Kody Crosby 2 0-0 4, Bryce Beck 1 1-2 3, Blake Sullivan 1 0-0 3, Dillon Reiser 2 2-2 8, Tristan Titus 1 0-0 3, Shade Wondra 2 1-2 5, Wyatt Bryant 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 5-10 35.
Hays              23    10    17    13  —  63
Great Bend    10     1     17     7   —  35
     Three-point goals — Hays 6 (Windholz 3, Clark 2, Parker); Great Bend 4 (Reiser 2, Sullivan, Titus).