Emery Drops 27 as Conqs Outgun Pirates 101-92 to Hand Indy 8th Straight Loss

DODGE CITY, Kan. – In poetic fashion, Chevalier “Ice” Emery stole the show in a game that had its start time moved up two hours due to winter weather. Emery scored 27 points and provided seven assists to guide Dodge City to their second consecutive win.

The Conqs (4-5, 2-1) had started to shake off their rough start to the season, having won two of three entering the weekend. They came in after a 78-73 win over Colby which came without the help of leading scorer Gavin Shannon.

Independence (1-8, 0-3) opened up the season with a win over Labette but they have been lost since, coming into the game riding a seven game losing streak, with all of those losses being by double figures.

In a fast paced opening half, Independence got out to 9-2 lead early as Dodge City started slow as they have had a tendency to do this season. A 7-0 run by the Conqs shortly thereafter gave the Conqs their first lead of the game at 14-12 just over five minutes into the game.

The game stayed within four points until Tyree Jackson hit one of his three first half long balls with 7:01 left in the first half to put Dodge City ahead 30-23. A Hunter Duncan made free throw pushed the lead to double digits at 34-24 with 4:50 remaining as the Pirates offense began struggling.

Cory Curtis helped keep Indy close going into halftime as he scored seven points over the last 4:33 of the half to keep the visitors within striking distance as the score sat at 42-39 after 20 minutes of play.

The lead went back-and-forth throughout most of the second half as Independence guard Ahmaree Muhammad took over offensively, scoring 20 of his 31 points after halftime. He became the primary option for the Pirates, especially after Curtis fouled out with 12:07 left in the game.

The game stayed within six points until there were under six minutes remaining in the contest. Emery was the catalyst for the Conqs offense for most of the half, as he tallied 18 points in the second frame. Marius Canery took over late though, as he polished off a 16 point second half by scoring six of the team’s final 13 points to push the Conqs past Indy 101-92.

“The difference is the body language, good attitude when you get subbed out, when something bad happens in the game, it’s a next play mentality. We were really, really bad at that early, and still at times it shows its head a little bit but I think as a team, we’ve gotten so much better in that aspect,” head coach Brad Witherspoon said postgame when asked about what has sparked the team’s recent successes.

As a team, the Conqs forced 22 turnovers, leading to 28 points. They shot low volume but high efficiency from outside, cashing in on eight of 15 attempts.

Emery and Canery led the Conqs in scoring with 27 and 18 respectively while Duncan posted strong numbers as well with a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double. Season leading scorer Gavin Shannon was unavailable for the second consecutive game.

Indy got strong performances from Curtis who dropped 16 before fouling out, and Muhammad who scored 31 before leaving the game late in the second half with a shoulder injury. The Pirates offense was strong in most categories except the previously mentioned turnovers and free throws where they went just 13 for 26.

The Conqs will try and keep their strong start to conference play on Wednesday, when they head to Pratt to take on the Beavers. The game will be a part of a men’s-women’s doubleheader and will be broadcast live on Z98 with an expected start time of 7:30 p.m.

Brad Witherspoon Postgame Interview