By Mike Blackwell
Hays Rebel head coach Danny Preuss had a rather unique reaction Tuesday after his team beat the Lake Travis Cavaliers in a big district game 59-44 at Bales Gym.
“I just told the girls, ‘Congratulations, we made the playoffs,’” said Preuss, “and they looked at me kind of dumbfounded and I said, ‘Exactly. We haven’t done anything yet.’”
While the Rebels didn’t actually clinch a playoff spot, the Lady Rebels did push further ahead of Lake Travis in the district standings with the win. Hays is now 6-3, while Lake Travis dropped to 4-4.
Several teams are bunched together in the district standings, with each team having a handful of games remaining.
Hays and Lake Travis have split their two games this season, but the Lady Rebels hold the advantage.
After leading 17-9 at the end of the first quarter, the two teams played a sluggish offensive game in the second quarter.
Hays built a 22-15 halftime lead. The Lady Rebels then pulled away 40-26 at the end of the third quarter, then survived a mini-run by Lake Travis in the fourth quarter to complete the win.
Lady Rebel junior Choon Hee Chae paced the Lady Rebels with 20 points and came up in the clutch during the fourth period by knocking down 5 of 6 free throws. Hays High senior Amanda Benjamin was also clutch for Hays as she scored 14 points; nine of those points came in the fourth quarter.
Hays Rebel sophomore guard Gabby Bosquez scored 11 for the Lady Rebels, and teammate Jordan Ott also scored 11 points.
“Amanda stepped up big when we beat Bowie, too,” Preuss said.
Hays assistant coach Kevin Bussinger said he was happy that Hays didn’t relax with the early lead.
“That team never stops playing,” Bussinger said. “We’ve played that group enough to know that no lead is safe.”
Hays junior post Jada Finister was effective for Hays in the first quarter by scoring six of her eight total points. Lady Rebel junior Jaden Williams added nine points for Hays, seven of those points scored during the fourth quarter when the Cavaliers attempted their run.
A Mandy Karako layup with 3:25 left cut the Hays lead to 47-39, but the Cavaliers could get no closer.
“They play well over here,” said Lake Travis coach Patrick Hinson. “They hit some huge shots. Every time we would get some momentum, they would hit hands-in-your-face shots. I have a feeling we’re going to see them again, but I hope we don’t see them here at Hays.”
