Hays Beats Demons For Fifth, Heights Takes TOC
Dodge City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) Two WAC foes played in the fifth place game at the 73rd annual Tournament of Champions Saturday in Dodge City at United Wireless Arena. The irony is that both Hays and Dodge City will meet six days later. In this first matchup within a week, the Red Demons (5-7) jumped out to 9-2 lead on the strength of three early threes, but they could not keep the momentum going in a 59-43 loss.
Game Highlights
Hays (10-2) had four players in double figures led by Fort Hays State signee Isaiah Nunnery with 16 points, Drew Young and Shane Berens each added 12 points and Keith Dryden had 11. After finishing the first quarter tied at 15, Hays won each quarter the rest of the way. The Indians took the second quarter 13-12, 13-7 in the third and 18-9 in the fourth.
The difference came off the boards. Hays had a 32-22 advantage off the glass and only turned the ball over seven times to Dodge City’s 13. The Indians also shot 51 percent from the field, while the Red Demons reached only 39 percent. Bryce Unruh led the Red Demons with 15 points.
DCHS Coach Dennis Hamilton’s Post-game comments
1st place game Wichita Heights 61, Wichita East 54
In a battle of the 6A and 5A defending champs, Heights won their second game against East this season. Davon Gill and Devin Davis each had 12 for the Falcons as Heights survived a game that featured 12 lead changes and 5 ties. For Heights it is their first TOC title since 2010. East was making their 18th appearance in the TOC final, second most to Dodge’s 21 appearances in the history of the tournament.
3rd place game Manhattan 70, Maize 53
Trevor Hudgins and Gabe Awbrey scored 16 and 15 points each and the Indians survived a tough third quarter where they were outscored 21-12 by erupting for a 24-13 advantage in the 4th to secure 3rd place. The win improves Manhattan’s record to 11-1, Maize the top ranked team in 5A falls 8-3.
7th place game Leavenworth 48, Hutchinson 38
The Pioneers get their second win of the year on the strength of 20-9 fourth quarter. Guard Marcus Erickson ended up with 12 points in going 7/8 from the free throw line.
Friday
*Dodge City had 16 points from Noah Williams and 11 points, 8 rebounds from Dayton McGroarty to beat Leavenworth 60-50 in advancing to Saturday’s fifth place game.
*Shane Berens had another 18 point performance as Hays rebounded from a tough opening night loss to Wichita East to beat Hutchinson 71-32
*Wichita Heights advanced to the final 51-49 surviving a tip in that just missed the buzzer from Maize’s Troy Baker off a missed Grant Bugbee three from the left corner. Bugbee had 21 points in the loss.
*Elijah Kelly hit a game tying three with nine seconds left forcing overtime in a game where the Blue Aces trailed almost throughout and were able to take control in overtime to hand Manhattan their first loss of the season 57-53.
