The race for the Western Athletic Conference championship seems to always come down to the final few games. The Dodge City and Hays boys have battled all year in the standings but it came down to their match up against one another on Tuesday night. A win for Dodge City gave the Demons their fourth-consecutive WAC title and it was obvious they wanted it. The Demons defeated Hays 53-36.
Hays senior Brady Werth was so critical in the Indians win against Garden City. Against the Demons he didn’t have a good night. He only put up four points in the first half and the Indians were forced to play on the perimeter.
Demon senior Shaphan Gross dropped in the first five points of the game. The Demons started to gain speed and their defense was crucial. They kept Werth out of the lane and the Indians only earned five points in the first quarter. The turnovers created by Hays senior Derek Bixenman kept the Indians alive.
With 48 seconds left in the first quarter there was plenty of time for Dodge junior Jace Larson to find another junior, Austin Weiser, outside the arc for three. The Demons dominated the first quarter 19-5 after two free throws by Larson as time ran out.
Hays junior Lane Clark led the way for the Indians in the second quarter but the Demons refused to allow them to mount a comeback. At halftime the Demons had a hefty lead 29-18.
The three-time WAC champions were not going to let another title out of their sight. Gross sealed it up as the Demons took a two game lead in the WAC and the title 53-36.
The Garden City girls have already clinched the WAC title with their win over Hays last Friday. However, Hays and Dodge City were both looking for revenge Tuesday night.
After coming back within four late in the second quarter the Lady Demons thought they could rally together to pull out a WAC win. Senior Alexis Sanchez was Dodge’s leading scorer with 14 points. Hays senior Katelyn Schumacher was the Lady Demons' kryptonite. She put up 18 points in the game and rallied her troops to another WAC victory 56-38.
