Hays boys basketball finishes sixth at Rebel Classic

Hays’ Jaren Rodriguez goes to the basket during the Rebels’ 70-61 loss to Lanier in the second round of the Rebel Classic. Hays knocked off Vandegrift in the first round and finished sixth in the tournament. (Photo by Judy Cooper)

by JASON GORDON

The opening round of the Rebel Classic almost started off poorly for the host Hays High boys, but a late rally saved the Rebs.

Hays trailed Vandegrift, a team the Rebels beat handily early in the season, for most of the game before rallying late for a 55-52 win.

Hays trailed 27-22 at halftime, but scored the first eight points after the break as Caleb Kimbro and Brandon Alvarado both hit a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer to help the Rebs build a 40-38 lead heading to the final quarter of play.

Hays never trailed again in the contest.

“We made a few personnel changes at halftime,” Hays head coach Dean McMullen said. “I think we were overconfident we were going to get an easy win before the game. We didn’t play well in the first half but after we made those adjustments we played well the rest of the game.”

McMullen said the team learned a good lesson that should pay off once the district season begins in a couple of weeks.

“Those are definitely the kinds of things we’ll have to do in district play,” McMullen said. “You have to adjust on the go because district is so competitive. You don’t have the luxury of having a couple of practices to work things out.”

Isaiah Williams led a balanced Hays High scoring attack with 12 points, Kimbro and Alvarado had 10 points and Jaren Rodriguez added nine points for the Rebels.

Hays faced a tougher challenge in the second round against 9-1 Lanier, but the Rebs came out ready to play.

Kimbro, a first-team All-District selection last year as a freshman, was scorching the nets early on. He scored 15 points in the first half, en route to a game-high total of 25, to help Hays build a 31-28 lead at the break. The Rebels led by as many as 10 points in the first half before Lanier cut into the margin.

McMullen also singled out Bobby Limon’s defensive effort as a key against the Vikings.

“Caleb was knocking down shots and our guys were doing a good job feeding him the ball through our motion offense,” McMullen said. “I was very pleased with the way we came out against Lanier. Bobby’s play really stood out defensively.”

Hays held a 46-43 lead at the end of the third quarter but that’s when Lanier went on the attack, getting to the basket and the free throw line numerous times and eventually pulling away from the Rebels for a 70-61 win.

Lanier shot 24 free throws in the game and Hays made it to the line only six times the entire contest.

“They attacked late and we settled for jumpers,” McMullen said. “Good teams find a way to win. We just have to finish.”

Hays lost the fifth-place game to San Marcos by double-digits, but overall McMullen was pleased with the way his team played in the Rebel Classic.

“San Marcos made 13 three-pointers, most of them with a hand in their face,” he said. “When that happens you have to shake your opponent’s hand and hope you get them the next time. We’re a good team and I’m proud of the way we’re competing, but we’re still learning.”

Kimbro was named to the All-Tournament team at the Rebel Classic for Hays.

Hays will play in two more tournaments, this weekend at Smithville and then at Fredericksburg, before the district season begins on Dec. 31 against Lehman.

“We wanted to play our tournaments later in the season to get all our football guys in here to give us a lot of practice time together as a group,” McMullen said. “I think having back-to-back-to-back tournaments right before district will help us a lot. We will be playing plenty of games and that will be good for us.”