By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The deck was stacked against a young Great Bend team playing what could be the most talented team in Hays High history. The Lady Indians entered Friday's basketball game ranked No. 2 in Class 5A with a perfect 12-0 record, yet trailed the Lady Panthers 9-2 early in the first quarter. Hays righted the ship, closing out the first half on a 40-6 run to leave town with a 65-39 win.
Sophomore Meredith Mazouch opened scoring on a putback less than 30 seconds in. Senior Cassie Ellegood added a jumper, and junior Alyssa McCauley swished a three for a 9-2 lead less than four minutes into the game.
Then Hays turned up the pressure. Great Bend survived five early turnovers but finished the first quarter with 10 giveaways. The Lady Indians scored 16 points in the final four minutes of the period to lead 18-9.
Hays freshman Jenna Schmeidler is the future of the Western Athletic Conference. She poured in nine points in the second quarter. McCauley ended the Great Bend drought with another 3-pointer, but only 10 minutes after the last Panther field goal. Hays led 42-15 at the break.
McCauley added another triple in the third quarter and senior DeShawnna Bryant battled down low to score six points in the frame. Still, Hays led by 28 points with five seconds to play in the quarter. After a timeout, the Lady Indians perfected a full-court inbounds play capped by Molly Buckles scoring in the paint to set the clock in motion for the duration of the final quarter.
Schmeidler finished with 15 points for Hays. McCauley added a trey in the fourth to finish with 14 points for Great Bend. Bryant added 12 points and four rebounds, and Ellegood battled through a dislocated pinky early in the game to finish with five points and four boards.