Demons’ Early Momentum Fades in Season Ending Defeat Against Wichita-South
WICHITA, Kan. – A 28-2 Titans run in the second and third quarters undid an early Dodge City lead as Wichita-South advanced in the sub-state playoffs with a 42-30 home victory.
Both teams came into the matchup with very little momentum. #14 Dodge City (5-16) entered the game as losers of seven straight and were really struggling despite a decent first half effort against Liberal in their final regular season game. #3 Wichita-South (14-7) had lost three in a row, two of which were decided very late with one being a loss by one to Southeast and another being an overtime loss to East.
Despite the records and seedings, Dodge City was the better team early as they played one of their best quarters of the season to start the game. The Demons made seven of eight free throw attempts in the quarter and Addison Taylor knocked down a pair of threes to help Dodge open up a 17-9 lead after the opening frame.
The offense came to screeching halt in the second for Dodge though as they proceeded to get shutout while missing all nine of their field goal attempts in the quarter. Defense kept the Demons in the game but they went into the halftime break tied at 17 as the Titans got their offense going right before halftime with senior guard N’Ascent Robinson leading South with nine points at the break.
Everything fell apart for Dodge in the third quarter as their offensive struggles continued and South found an offensive rhythm, leading to a 19-2 scoring margin in favor of the Titans in the quarter. Dodge only attempted four field goals in the frame, missing all of them while turning the ball over ten times which South turned into 12 points. Zion Butler scored nine points in the third for the hosts including an exclamation point three from seven feet beyond the arc with just seconds left to make it 36-19 entering the fourth.
The Demons bounced back with a strong fourth but it wasn’t near enough to undo the damage done in the second and third. They cut into the deficit in the quarter but South was never really threatened as they came away with a 42-30 win.
Inconsistency had been an issue for Dodge all season and it really showed in this game as they played some of their best and worst basketball over the course of four quarters.
“It was a season of highs and lows, and that’s what you get with youth. They could’ve gone one of two ways…and they went the right way for sure. They came out and they competed for us and I think we shocked South a little bit. I would’ve like to shock them and finish the deal but overall proud of how they competed,” head coach Kelley Snodgrass said postgame.
The loss ended the season for Dodge as they finish the year 5-16. The team is mostly underclassmen who will return next season but they lose two stalwarts in Easha Potts and Ashlyn Lembright who lead the team in almost all statistical categories throughout the season.
Wichita-South moves on in the sub-state playoffs to take on Topeka-Washburn Rural on Friday.
Kelley Snodgrass Postgame Interview
