By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

It's a fact a youthful Hays High School boys' basketball team has had trouble scoring points this season.

But part of that can be attributed to the opponents the Indians play, said coach Rick Keltner. He said several of HHS' opponents like to control the tempo, which limits possessions -- and points.

It could be more of the same Tuesday, when Hays High travels to Dodge City in WAC action. The girls' game starts at 6 p.m., followed by the boys.

"Most of Dodge's games are 40-something to 40-something," said Keltner, whose Indians lost 43-36 to the Red Demons earlier this season in the Dodge City Tournament of Champions. "I think we've been playing people that are very possession-conscious.

"It's hard to get a 70-point game," he added.

The Dodge City boys are 6-7 overall, but 3-0 in the WAC. The Red Demons, who beat Liberal 55-43 on Tuesday, are defending WAC champions. Hays High (4-9 overall, 1-2 WAC), which was snowed out Friday at Concordia, will look to snap a six-game losing streak.

Keltner thinks the Indians can break out offensively.

"I still think we're capable of blowing out on somebody," Keltner said.

In Tuesday's 53-42 loss to Salina South, the Indians' long-range shooting came to life late in the game.

"We had five 3s in the fourth quarter," Keltner said. "That gets me to thinking early in the game we're thinking too much."

Hays High, which is averaging 43.1 points, is led in scoring by junior guard Derek Bixenman at 11.8 points per game. Bixenman has a team-high 26 3-pointers, followed by sophomore guard Jordan Windholz, who has 24 treys and is averaging 7.8 points. Brady Werth, the Indians' 6-foot-5 freshman center, is averaging 5.8 points, with 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game, both team highs.

"We've got some guys that are doing some good things, we just got to put it together," Keltner said.

The Hays High girls have been putting it together after a 3-3 start this season. The Indians are 6-1 since, and ranked eighth in Class 5A. Hays High (9-4, 3-0), off since last Tuesday's 46-44 win over Salina South due to Friday's postponement, will face a stiff test at Dodge City (7-6, 2-1).

"We've got to bring our 'A' game every time, whether it's Concordia or Dodge City next Tuesday," said HHS coach Kirk Maska.

Hays High lost in overtime at Dodge City last season.

"All WAC games are tough on the road, but (we) had a great performance there last year, and look forward to another good effort," Maska said.

With a win Tuesday, the Indian girls could take a big step toward winning the WAC title.

SDLqIt's going to be a tough road test for us," Maska said. "It's going to be a really important one, beating them on the road in the WAC to go 4-0."

Hays High is led by senior forward Paige Lunsford, who is averaging 15.5 points.

Dodge City senior guard Brenna Briggs poured in a school-record 37 points last time out in a 73-31 win at Liberal. Briggs was 7-of-17 from 3-point land.

"Dodge City has a very good team again this year, with some girls we can't allow to get good looks," Maska said. "They can shoot the ball very well."