BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Hays High's Dawson Ruder made a statement as the league's Most Valuable Player with a dominant 33-point effort that sparked a 67-52 victory over Great Bend 67-52 that clinched the Western Athletic basketball title.
Ruder spoiled Senior Night by dominating inside in addition to a trio of 3-pointers. Ruder scored 19 second-half points when the Panthers were unable to deny him the basketball in scoring position.
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. Trey Oakley scored 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers.
Ruder's height and girth limited the Panthers' inside offense. The Panthers made 18 of 53 field goals (34%) and 7 of 23 from 3-point range (30%).
Great Bend's Cooper Ohnmacht scored 17 points and Tavon Stroup added 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. WAC all-league Jacob Hall made 2 of 14 shots and scored eight points against a collapsing and aggressive defense focused on stopping the Panthers' leading scorer.
The Panthers sliced a Hays 13-point lead to 27-25 behind a 13-2 scoring burst right before halftime. Tavon Stroup hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Ohnmacht added four points. Daxton Minton sparked the defense with a trio of first-half steals.
But Hays closed the half with a game-changing 7-0 run for a 34-25 halftime lead. Trey Oakley hit a 3-pointer, Andre Pfeifer scored and Brody Harmoney scored on a steal.
Ruder enjoyed a 9-point third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers. The Indians built the lead to 55-35 and were never threatened after halftime.
The Indians made 25 of 48 field goals (52%), 6 of 12 on 3-pointers with 15 turnovers.
It marked the final home game for Panther seniors Hall, Minton, Stroup, Kavon Price, Eli Contreras and injured all-stater Ian Premer. It was also the final home game for retiring assistant coach Dale Kuhlman.
"It'll be fun to follow these guys grow into adults and become dads," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. "That's what cool about coaching."
No. 11 West seed 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
