Balanced Offensive Attack Helps Demons Cruise Past Trinity

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Jaiden Springer looked like his old self as he poured in 21 to help the Red Demons take down Wichita-Trinity 64-41 at the Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Tochi Okoro added 16 points and 11 rebounds as he continued his strong play after being named to the All-Tournament team at the Tournament of Champions over the weekend.

Dodge City (6-6) came into the game with limited rest, having played three games in the previous four days. They were also struggling with consistency, having lost their final game of the TOC after leading by 12 at halftime against Olathe East. They finished the weekend 1-2 and placed sixth overall.

Wichita Trinity (4-8) had also struggled in the their mid-season tournament, going 1-2 in El Dorado with their only win being against the hosts on the final day.

The Red Demons came out of the gates on fire offensively, making 6 of 12 field goal attempts including three long balls. Springer had clearly shaken off his last few rough shooting outings as he tallied ten of Dodge’s 19 points in the opening frame as his team built an 11-point lead.

Trinity shift the tides in the second quarter as they had issues hanging onto the ball, turning it over 11 times in the first half which Dodge turned into ten points. The Demons’ hot shooting continued as well as they went into halftime still shooting 50% from the field and from three with Okoro joining Springer with double digit points at halftime which saw Dodge lead 35-19. Donald Collier was the only Knight who was able to get anything going offensively in the half, scoring seven including two threes

Collier tried to help Trinity make a third quarter push scoring ten in the frame while Dodge started to struggle offensively making just 3 of 16 field goals in the quarter. That helped the Knights cut the deficit to 13 entering the fourth quarter which quickly became ten after Collier hit another three to start the fourth.

Things imploded for Trinity after that moment though as Dodge would proceed to go on a 17-0 run which turned a 47-37 game into a 54-37 rout midway through the fourth. Anthony Perez and Grayden Gamblin both got into double figures in the fourth and Dodge cruised to a 64-41 win.

Wichita Trinity finished the game having turned the ball over 22 times versus just eight for Dodge City. The Demons scored 21 points off of those turnovers which made it especially difficult to make a comeback combined with Dodge making 7 of 16 three pointers in the game.

“I think we really, really talked all week about playing together, playing mentally tough and we give an MVP award after wins and we gave it to the team, the whole team because I felt like we did, we came together as a team,” head coach Shane Traughber said following the win.

Dodge City has a week off before playing in their next game on Jan. 30 at home against Garden City. That game will begin at approximately 7:30 following the girl’s game at 6 p.m. The game will be live on Z98 with pregame coverage beginning at 7:10.

Shane Traughber Postgame Interview