By KLINT SPILLER

The Hays Daily News

McPHERSON -- When the Hays High School boys' basketball team last made the state tournament, the seniors on this year's squad were in the fifth grade, and for the past six years of playing together, the seniors have been working to bring HHS back to the season finale.

In Friday's class 5A sub-state finals, the Indians had an opportunity to make it back to state again, but couldn't capitalize. The Indians missed a last-second shot that would have sent the game into overtime, and lost 44-42 to rival Great Bend.

"It is real tough, because us seven seniors have been playing together since seventh grade," HHS senior point guard Dexter Pfeifer said. "It just (hurts) for it all to come to an end like this, especially against Great Bend."

Hays High coach Rick Keltner said he feels badly for the seven seniors on this squad that have never made the state tournament.

"We've been winning games, but we just haven't been to state since 2003," Keltner said. "It is frustrating. It is such a neat trip. Our kids are frustrated. I am frustrated. It is kind of a deal where I hurt for them."

Hays High (15-7) trailed for nearly the entire game against Great Bend (15-7). HHS had the lead once, at 2-0.

However, HHS rallied in the final two minutes after being behind 39-33. Pfeifer and senior Tyler Rathke made back-to-back 3-pointers, and senior Dan Moritz scored on a put-back in the paint to narrow the Panthers' lead to 43-42.

The Indians forced a Great Bend turnover with 40 seconds left. Pfeifer missed a jumper, then in the final seconds a jumper by Moritz hit the rim, bounced high into the air, hit the rim again then bounced off.

"We had some shots that could have won it or tied it," Keltner said. "We didn't make plays, and at this time of the year, you have to make plays. I truly am hurting so much for these seniors."

In a slow-down game, Great Bend and Hays High shot the ball 26 and 36 times, respectively, but when Great Bend had an opportunity, the Panthers capitalized, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line.

"Great Bend did a great job of controlling the tempo and trying to get shots," Keltner said.

The Indians struggled offensively throughout the game, shooting 36.1 percent from the field and 20 percent from the 3-point line.

But HHS still was able to maintain enough pressure to stay in the game to the final possession.

"I thought the kids battled hard, but we just dug ourselves in a hole," Keltner said. "Then Great Bend made some plays, but we had some chances to win the game."

Pfeifer led HHS in scoring with 18 points. He was the only Indian to reach double figures, shooting 6-of-13 from the field. Pfeifer also had two assists but turned the ball over five times.

"Dexter wanted to win so bad," Keltner said. "He is one of the greatest kids that I've ever gotten to coach in terms of his competitiveness. He made some tough plays, and he just wanted to will us to win."

Moritz and senior Bryant Bombardier added eight and six points, respectively.

Senior Logan Marshall led the Panthers in scoring with 15 points. He made 4-of-7 shots from the field and 7-of-8 free throws.

"(Marshall) gets going on his runs," Moritz said. "He was making shots, and everyone was fouling him, which was not helping much. We just didn't play hard enough, and we didn't get the job done."

HHS fell behind early as Great Bend made 5-of-8 from the field, and the Indians went into the second quarter trailing 13-6.

Neither team could put together any offense in the second quarter, scoring five points apiece.

In the second half, HHS nearly tripled its scoring total from the first half.

To start the third quarter, HHS went on a 7-0 run to tie the game and ended up making five of its first six shots and five of its first six free throws.

"I think we've had trouble this year attacking the basket," Keltner said.

"I thought we were going after people better, and our spacing was better. It all connects."

However, a late HHS dead spell in the third quarter allowed Great Bend to reclaim a 32-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Indians battled back late, but it wasn't enough.

"We've been playing together for so long, so it is tough not making it to state and not getting the WAC championship," Moritz said. "Overall, I think we are pretty satisfied with the season. We definitely would like to have gone on, but it happens."

Great Bend, which had lost the first two meetings against HHS this season, won the last two. In Great Bend on Feb. 26, the Panthers held the Indians to a season-low 31 points to win by eight and deny HHS a share of the conference championship. Then the Panthers slowed it down again on Friday to punch their ticket to state.

"It was just two good teams battling it out," Keltner said. "I'm really disappointed that we lost, but our kids battled."

Though Pfeifer was frustrated with the ending, he said he was still happy with the team's performance over the course of the season.

"We've played well almost every game," Pfeifer said. "I think we could have easily beaten every team we did lose to. We had a good season."