Hays senior Isaiah Williams goes strong to the basket for a layup during the Rebels’ playoff-clinching 72-59 win over Clemens at Bales Gym Tuesday night. It marks the first time since 2001 the Hays boys hoosters have made the postseason. (photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
With a long-awaited playoff berth on the line, the Hays High boys basketball team held a dish party Tuesday night at Bales Gym.
No, the Rebels weren’t selling the kind of Tupperware bowls that were popular decades ago, Hays players were sharing the ball with precise passes that led to basket after basket.
Hays had 16 assists in the first half alone, which helped lead the Rebels to an easy 72-59 victory over Clemens.
“That’s how our offense has been all year,” said guard Trey Johnson. “We keep rotating the ball until we find the open man. That’s how we get so many easy baskets.”
The victory clinched a playoff spot for the Rebels, who improved to 6-3 in District 27-4A. It will be the first time the Hays boys basketball team is in the postseason since the 2000-01 season.
“People all around school are talking about the fact we’re the first boys basketball team to make the playoffs in so long and it makes you feel good,” Johnson said. “It couldn’t happen to a better group of guys. We’ve worked very hard to get to this point.”
Hays head coach Dean McMullen agreed.
“Coming into the season I told them it would take a special group of young men to get to the playoffs,” McMullen said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. They really responded to the challenge.”
Hays opened an insurmountable lead on Clemens in the second quarter, when the Rebels had assists on all 12 of their field goals.
Jacob Rodriguez, who finished with nine assists, found Jaren Rodriguez with a pass for a layup to get the second quarter started. Jaren then passed to Steven Jass for a banker in the lane to put Hays up 20-15.
Jass and Caleb Kimbro took turns feeding Jaren on the left baseline for 3-point bombs, and the rout was on. Jacob Rodriguez found Johnson twice for layups with under 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, and the Rebs led 44-27 at the half.
Jaren Rodriguez led Hays with 18 points, Johnson finished with 12 points, Isiah Williams had 11 points and Hayden Cagle added 10 points for the Rebs.
In a cruel twist of fate, on a night that should have been only about celebrating good times for Hays, the Rebels learned they will likely have to forfeit their final district game of the season against Smithson Valley.
UIL rules stipulate varsity basketball teams can play 21 games, including district games, and in three tournaments. Hays athletic coordinator Blake Feldt confirmed Hays would have to forfeit the Smithson Valley game that was scheduled for Feb. 14.
Because Hays added a game against El Paso Faith Academy, the second-ranked TAPPS team in the state, during the holiday break, it means the Rebs will have 22 non-tournament regular season games.
“I take full responsibility,” McMullen said. “It was a complete oversight on my part.”
Because of Lehman’s 67-66 win at Smithson Valley Tuesday night, Hays can still clinch third place in the district standings with a win Friday at Lockhart, which has won only one game all season.
Alamo Heights has a lock on the district title and Canyon is close to clinching second place in District 27-4A.
