by MARK CAUL
Lehman’s Larry Benson swats a shot out of midair during the Lobos’ victory over Hays Friday night in the last game of the season for both teams. With a win, Hays could have forced a one-game playoff with Elgin Friday night for District 17-4A’s fourth and final postseason spot. (Courtesy photo)
The Hays boys basketball team entered Tuesday night’s tilt against rival Lehman with a lot on the line.
A possible playoff berth was in the Rebels’ sights, which seemed very unlikely as recently as a few weeks ago for a Hays team compiled entirely of underclassmen that started the season with a 2-14 overall record and an 0-4 mark in District 17-4A.
On this night, however, it was the Lobos who saw their playoff hopes fade with a loss to Elgin last week, who played spoiler. Lehman slammed the door on their cross-town rival’s postseason hopes with a 51-45 win over the Rebels at the Lobo Den.
A Hays win would have meant a one-game playoff with Elgin Friday night for District 17-4A’s fourth and final postseason berth.
Lehman’s Jonathan Garrion scored 17 of his game high 20 points in the first half as the Lobos built an early 12 point advantage.
“I was ready to play because I didn’t want to go out in my last game with a loss,” Garrion said. “It feels good to knock them out of the playoffs because we felt like we let one slip away the last time we played them.”
Hays head coach Kris Fuller was disappointed his team didn’t have a better showing with so much to play for.
“We just couldn’t buy a bucket when we needed one,” Fuller said. “It’s pretty disappointing to fight that hard to put ourselves in position to go to the playoffs and shoot the ball so poorly in a game we had to have.”
Hays, who trailed the entire contest, forged within 51-47 late in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws by freshman Caleb Kimbro. But Lobo guard Dane Peddycoart scored on a breakaway layup seconds later to end the threat.
