HAYS, Kan. - Hays High and Hutchinson girls met in the class 5A sub-state Championship on Friday night to battle for a spot in the 5A State Basketball Tournament. The Salthawks had a brief lead early at 4-0, but the wheels quickly came off at the start of the second quarter as Hays eliminated the Salthawks 56 to 17 ending a 29 year drought of qualifying for State for the Indians.
Hutchinson scored the first four points of the game. It took the Indians nearly three minutes to put anything on their side of the scoreboard. Katie Linenberger hit a pair of free throws and start the Indians scoring..
Hays held the Salthawks scoreless for the remainder of the quarter for an 8-4 lead after the first eight minutes. The second quarter belonged to the Indians. Linenberger scored the first six points of the frame forcing a Hutchinson timeout.
The Salthawks scored out of the time out for their only points of the second quarter. Molly Buckles scored the final two points of the quarter right before the buzzer to polish off a 13-0 run and a 27-6 halftime lead.
Hutch was led by Kaia Smith's seven points. Grace Posh and Clara Ontjes had three each, Ava Krone and Kohlbie Craft finished out the Salthawks scoring with two points each.
The Indians Molly Martin scored 16, Jenna Schmeidler had 15, Zoe Winter added 11 and Katie Linenberger chipped in 10. The Indians are 22-0 setting a record for their most wins in a season.
Seniors Grace Posh, Lily Rodriquez and Kaia Smith finished off their season at 15 and 8 including one the first times Hutchinson has reached the sub-state championship game in recent seasons.
Posh finishes her career with 971 points scored over her four seasons. Posh has committed to Seward County Community College to begin her college career.
Rodriquez will compete on the Hutch High Golf team this spring before enrolling at Hutchinson Community College in the fall.
Smith is undecided where she will play but has had several offers to continue her athletic career at the next level.