INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Independence Men’s Basketball team season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion, as a last second shot left a valiant comeback effort falling short in a 76-74 loss to Fort Hays Tech Northwest in the first round of the Region VI tournament. 

The Pirates got off to the fast start they were looking for in their first home playoff game under Coach Jai Steadman, as they were able to grab an early double-digit lead at 21-11 midway through the first half. The Pirates extended the lead to 11, their largest of the game after a David Wilson three point shot that prompted a Tigers timeout. Out of the timeout the Tigers threw a different look at the Pirates, switching to a zone defense, that definitely slowed the Pirates down, as the Tigers rattled off a 13-5 run down the stretch of the first half to cut the Pirate lead to three at the break. 

The Tigers continued to slow down the Pirates throughout the second half as Fort Hays scored the first seven points of the half to take the lead, one they would never give back. The game swung back and forth for most of the second half before the Tigers pushed their lead out to 10 at the eight minute mark. 

The Tigers still maintained a nine point lead with about five minutes remaining, when the Pirates finally made their big push, as nine straight points, capped off by back to back three point makes from Trae Lewis and Xavier Miller tied the game at 66. Fort Hays tech wasted no time answering back, as Jasiah Shields buried a three pointer of his own. 

The Pirates continued to chip away at the lead down the stretch, as Fort Hays Tech left the door cracked open with multiple free throw misses down the stretch. The last of which came with just four second left to give the Pirates a chance down two, but Giali Chapman’s last second shot came up empty, ending the Pirates season with a heartbreaking two point loss.

Both teams despite living at the free throw line this game did struggle from the free throw line, as Indy only converted 59%, while the Tigers converted just 60%. Fort Hays Tech did have a slight advantage shooting from the field, while the Pirates had a slight advantage shooting from deep. The Tigers also had slight advantages in the rebounding battle and points in the paint.

The Pirates were led by a pair of 19 point performances from David Wilson and Trae Lewis, while Lonnie Bass Jr was the only other Pirate in double figures with 15. Will Lobor pulled down 10 rebounds, and Giali Chapman had five steals defensively. 

The Pirates finished the 2025-2026 season with an overall record of 15-16, a three win improvement from the year prior.