The Hays High School boys basketball team ended the 2024 part of their season with a 3-3 record, but they have started the new year with some key wins to improve their record to 5-4.
It was not an easy start, though, as the Indians resumed action with a loss on the road against Emporia on Jan. 14 by a score of 41-36. The game started at a slow pace with few points and multiple lead changes, but Hays High got an 18-14 lead going into halftime. At the start of the second half, the Indians led by seven twice, but that was their biggest lead of the night at 25-18, and the Spartans responded by forcing six straight turnovers, as the Indians only led by three, heading into the final eight minutes. The Indians scored the first points of the fourth quarter but did not score for another six minutes, as they tried making a comeback at the end but turned it over, as they were down by three in the final 10 seconds. This led to the Spartans hitting two free throws and pulling away by five.
Hays High rebounded, though, as they went to Garden City on Jan. 17 for their second game of conference play, winning 69-50. The Indians never trailed and made 13 three-pointers, a new season high. Hays High got going early on, with a 16-8 lead in the first quarter, and extended their lead to double digits multiple times, but the Buffaloes did not go away, as they caught up and only trailed 32-27 at halftime. In the second half, the Indians outscored Garden City, 37-23, thanks to their offense and senior Johnny Cano finishing with a career high 21 points to get their second win of conference play, which ties the Indians for first place with Great Bend.
The Indians’ most recent game was at Wichita Independent in a game that was supposed to be played at Hays High in early January but got delayed to Jan. 20 due to a blizzard. Despite having to change the date and the location, nothing bothered the Indians in this game, as they scored the first 30 points of the contest and never looked back, defeating the Panthers, 76-22. Although the offense played a huge role by getting 43 points in the first half, the defense only allowed seven made shots and forced the Panthers into 31 turnovers in the game. Hays High continued to make big efforts on offense for the remainder of the game, and Independent only made a few more shots in the game, as the Indians won big in their third game back in action in 2025.
Hays High now stands at 5-4, looking to improve their position in the Western Athletic Conference and the 5A West standings. The Indians will play in the Colby Orange and Black Tournament against the undefeated Concordia Panthers on Thursday, Jan. 23, and after the mid-season tournament, will face Great Bend on Jan. 31 before playing Sunrise Christian Academy on Feb. 4 in their first home game since Dec. 13.
