Hays High's Dawson Ruder clinched an outright Western Athletic Conference basketball title and Most Valuable Player honors in a dominating 33-point effort that sparked a 67-52 victory over Great Bend Friday.
Ruder spoiled the Panthers' defensive game plan by dominating inside plus a trio of 3-pointers. No halftime adjustments were offered as Ruder scored 19 second-half points. The Indians spaced the court and worked the ball efficiently inside to Ruder. The Indians complimented Ruder's play with a trio of 3-pointers.
Cooper Ohnmacht scored 17 points and Tavon Stroup added 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. WAC all-league Jacob Hall was held to 2 of 14 shooting and eight points by a collapsing and aggressive Indian defense.
Great Bend (13-9, 6-2) missed an opportunity to share the WAC championship. The Panthers will travel to Wichita Carroll (15-7) for Tuesday's 5A postseason play.
Hays 18 16 22 11 — 67
Great Bend 11 14 13 14 — 52
HAYS (18-4, 8-0)—Ruder 12-20 (3-5) 6-7 33; Oakley 6-14 (2-5) 0-0 14; Pfeifer 2-3 3-6 7; Harmoney 2-2 (1-1) 2-2 7; Fox 2-6 (0-1) 0-0 4; Homeier 0-2 0-0 0; Smalley 1-1 0-0 2; Totals 25-48 (6-12) 11-15 67
GREAT BEND (13-9, 6-2)—Ohnmacht 7-17 (2-6) 1-4 17; Stroup 4-8 (3-4) 0-0 11; Hall 2-14 (1-7) 3-4 8; Minton 2-7 (0-3) 3-4 7; Jaxon Wondra 1-2 (0-1) 1-2 3; Alec Premer 2-5 (1-2) 1-1 6; Price 0-0 0-2 0; Totals 18-53 (7-23) 9-17 52
5A WEST BOYS
WICHITA (3-2)—1—Kapaun-Mt, Carmel 23-0 vs. 16—Arkansas City 6-16; 8—Salina South 15-8 vs. 9—Salina Central 15-8
TOPEKA (3-2)—2—Topeka West 20-3 vs 15—Hutchinson 7-15; 7—Emporia 15-7 vs. 10—Andover High 14-9
MAIZE (3-2)—3—Maize South 19-4 vs. 14—Andover Central 10-13; 6—Wichita Carroll 15-7 vs. 11—Great Bend 13-9
TOPEKA (3-2)—4—Topeka Seaman 19-4 vs. 13—Valley Center 10-13; 5—Hays High 18-4 vs. 12—Goddard Eisenhower 10-12
ELIMINATED—17—Goddard 2-16; 18—Newton 1-22
HAYS GIRLS 68, GREAT BEND 29 — Hays High's girls steamrolled Great Bend to clinch its second consecutive unbeaten Western Athletic Conference basketball title with a dominating 68-29 victory. Hays has won 27 consecutive WAC games.
Great Bend (4-18, 1-7 WAC) was paced by Alyssa McCauley with seven points.
Hays 21 20 14 13 — 68
Great Bend 2 4 16 7 — 29
HAYS (21-1, 8-0)—Winter 9-13 (1-1) 0-0 19; Schmeidler 5-13 (2-7) 0-0 12; Rupp 3-4 (1-1) 0-0 7; Humphrey 1-2 0-0 2; LaBarge 3-5 1-2 7; Cunningham 0-2 0-0 0; Armbruster 3-7 (3-4) 0-0 9; Turner 3-6 (0-3) 0-0 6; Harrington 1-2 0-0 2; Buckles 2-6 0-0 4; Totals 30-60 (7-16) 1-2 68
GREAT BEND (4-18, 1-7)—McCauley 3-9 (1-4) 0-0 7; Meredith Mazouch 1-6 (1-2) 3-4 6; Hogan 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2; Chayla Prendergast 1-6 (1-1) 0-0 3; Alex Mayers 2-12 (0-4) 0-0 4; Katherine Mazouch 1-6 (1-1) 0-0 3; Stevie Mayers 1-4 0-0 2; Ringo 1-1 0-0 2; Totals 11-44 (4-12) 3-4 29
