The Hays girls basketball team handed defending league champion Smithson Valley its first-ever District 27-4A loss with a 63-52 win at Bales Gym Friday night.
The Lady Rebels steadily pulled away from the Lady Rangers, who went undefeated as district champs in 27-4A last year and came into Friday night’s contest with a 1-0 league record this season.
It was the first district loss for the Smitshon Valley girls basketball team since the 2009-10 season.
Hays, which lost its district opener at Canyon last Tuesday, used a well-balanced scoring attack to earn its most important victory of the season to date.
The win sets up a matchup between the Lady Rebs and rival Lehman, which has never beaten Hays in girls basketball and will be looking to avoid an 0-3 start in District 27-4A, Tuesday afternoon in Bales Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Hays narrowly led Smithson Valley 14-13 after one quarter of play but stretched the advantage to 29-25 at the break. The Lady Rebs led 42-35 heading into the fourth quarter, where a 21-point outburst helped them put away the Lady Rangers.
Junior post Jennifer Colonnetta had one of her best games of the season, leading Hays with15 points. Guards Lindsey McCurdy (14 points) Nicole Alcantara, (13 points) and Rachel Calabrese (10 points) were the other Lady Rebels in double-figures in the scoring column against Smithson Valley.
Kamryn Kent (five points), Jordyne Dugger (four points) and Shannon Peace (two points) also helped the Lady Rebs earn the key victory.
