For the better part of two-plus quarters Tuesday, the Hays Rebels boys basketball team had the state-ranked Westlake Chaparrals on the ropes.

But an intermittent second half Rebel offense, paired with 26 points from Chaparral KJ Adams, kept Hays from delivering the knockout blow in a 62-55 loss to No. 5 Westlake at Bales Gym.

Hays (18-10, 7-6) led 29-28 at halftime but couldn’t generate a rhythm on offense early in the third frame. Westlake capitalized on Hays’ miscues and orchestrated...