By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Kirk Maska couldn't hide Concordia's losing record if he tried.

And, the inspired play from junior Taylor Herman is there for all to see as well.

The Hays High School boys' and girls' basketball teams will travel to Concordia on Friday for nonleague action. The girls' game starts at 6:15 p.m., with the boys to follow.

While the Hays High girls (9-4) are still ranked eighth in Class 5A in the coaches' poll this week, Concordia is 1-13 on the season. Maska said his players often know how a team is doing before he does.

"They know what Concordia's record is," Maska said. "It's such a small world now with the Internet, and everything else. Most of them got it on their phones 15 minutes after the games are over."

Herman, a lanky, 5-foot-11 forward, is letting everybody know about her game as well. Herman stepped up her play at the Mid-America Classic in McPherson last week, and had another good game Tuesday, scoring eight points in the Indians' 46-44 win over Salina South.

"I think everybody has thought it was in her, except for Taylor Herman," Maska said of Herman's improved play. "Taylor Herman, the glass is always half-empty for her, it seems like. She's really hard on herself.

"I think she's finally realized that every shot's not going to go in, she's not going to get every rebound," Maska added. "She's gotten more into a comfort level."

At the McPherson tournament, Herman had seven points, three assists, one steal and three blocks in a win over previously unbeaten Manhattan, then followed that with seven points, eight rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals as HHS handed Andale its first loss in the semifinals.

"Taylor seems to have the line of the game," Maska said. "She always has (about) seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, couple blocked shots, two or three steals.

"She's really become a complete player for us," he added.

Herman's long arms make her tough on defense, Maska said.

"That length is really deceptive," Maska said. "I think Manhattan game, she had one of the best blocked shots I've seen from a girls' basketball player at any level."

Hays High is led in scoring by senior forward Paige Lunsford at 15.5 points per game. She has led or tied for the scoring lead in every game this season.

Lunsford and Co. will face a Concordia squad which is led by sophomore guard Megan James, who is averaging 6.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, and sophomore center Leyli Beims at 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

The key Friday is to play their game, and be ready to play, Maska said.

"The biggest emphasis is to not play to their level," Maska said. "We've come to do that the last couple years."

The Hays High boys (4-9) will look for more improvement Friday as they try to snap a six-game losing streak against Concordia (10-4), which had lost its last two games before beating Pike Valley 66-40 on Tuesday.

Scoring has been an issue for the Indians, who are averaging 43.1 points. Junior guard Derek Bixenman leads the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game.

"We're still trying to find our identity offensively," HHS coach Rick Keltner said, adding he is looking for ways to get more production out of his big men, yet still have his perimeter players be aggressive.

"Our post guys, early in the year we weren't getting it to them," Keltner said. "We're getting it to them (now), and we're not making it. I think we're getting good looks.

"... I also don't want us to quit attacking," he added.

A win would give his youthful squad a lift, Keltner said.

"Right now, it's hard on our ego when we lose," Keltner said. "We need a win, love to get a win.

"But all we can do is try to get better," Keltner added. "If we lose we're going to try to get better; if we win, we're going to try to get better."