Hays takes WAC showdown from Dodge
A six-minute cold spell and turnovers combined with timely shooting from Hays gave the Indians a 66 – 54 win over the Dodge City boys Friday night in Hays.
The Red Demons led once, 4 – 3, on back-to-back baskets from Hunter Heath. In fact, Heath scored Dodge City’s first seven points and the game was tied at 7 with 4:45 to play in the opening quarter. But the Demons couldn’t buy a bucket for the next six minutes, with the drought stretching into the 2nd quarter. Meanwhile, the Indians finished the 1st quarter on a 10 – 0 run and scored the first six points of the 2nd quarter to build a 23 – 7 advantage. Two quick baskets by Dodge, including a trey from Adrian Mendoza, trimmed the Hays lead to 11, but the Red Demons could get no closer and Hays led by 18, 43 – 25, at halftime. Claiborne Kyles and Tradgon McRae did most of the damage for Hays, with Kyles scoring 16, including three treys, and McRae adding 10 1st half points, including two baskets from beyond the arc. Kyles would finish with four 3s and 24 points to lead all scorers, followed by McRae’s 13 for Hays.
Dodge City opened the 2nd half with 5 quick points, including a trey from Chris Baker, to cut the lead to 13, but Hays rattled off 8 straight points to build a 21-point lead less than three minutes into the 3rd quarter and the Indians cruised from there. Hays led 60 – 35 after three quarters and held its biggest lead of the night, 62 – 35, early in the 4th quarter. Both coaches started going to their benches and the Red Demons outscored the Indians 19 – 4 the rest of the way.
Hunter Heath led Dodge City with 17 points, followed by Chris Baker’s 9. The Red Demons fall to 2-11 and will travel to Garden City on Tuesday.
