DCCC hoops teams split Conq Classic

DODGE CITY, KAN. — The Dodge City Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted the annual Conq Classic on Friday and Saturday inside of the Student Activity Center. The tournament fielded eight teams and a total of eight games over the two-day event.

Dodge City women’s team lost on Friday to Redlands (Okla.) before bouncing back with a win on Saturday afternoon over Lamar (Co.).

The Conqs dropped their game to the Cougars, 57-34 on Friday. Dodge City struggled offensively in the game, as they shot just 5.6 percent from 3-point range, connecting on just two of 36 attempts in the game. Redlands didn’t shoot the ball well either, going 20-53 (37.7%), but their defense is what kept them in the game and the blowout win over the Conqs.

Dodge City rebounded with a 77-42 win over the Lopes on Saturday afternoon. The Conqs used a balance offensive attack, as 11 players scored at least one point in the game. Haleigh Hill led the way with 12 points for Dodge City. The Conqs and Lopes were tied at nine apiece after the first quarter, but Dodge City dominated the second and third quarters to open up the can in route of the Lopes.

The Dodge City men also lost on Friday night to Redlands, 102-87. The Conqs pulled within single digits of the Cougars twice in the second half, but Redlands would answer quickly with a run of their own. The Cougars were led by A.J. McNeil’s 33 points in the contest and Anthony Love’s 27. Dodge City’s defense had no answer for those two players.

The Conqs would rebound on Saturday evening against Hesston and would hold on for a thrilling 84-82 win over the Hesston Larks. Dodge City led by as many as 24 points in the second half, but let the Larks climb back into the game late in the second half. The Larks had a chance at either tying or winning the game, as they in bounded the ball with 2.4 seconds remaining under their own basket and trailing by two, but the shot at the buzzer was left short and the Conqs survived. Jyrus Freels led the way for Dodge City with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Justice Dixon also added 16.

The Dodge City women improve to 3-3 on the season and will be back in action on Friday in the Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo. The Conqs will play the host Greyhounds on Friday evening at 5 p.m. and will then play State Fair (Mo.) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Dodge City men improve to 4-2 on the season and will be spending the entire Thanksgiving week in the state of Texas. The Conqs will play on Tuesday in Baytown against Lee College at 7 p.m. and will then play again on Saturday in Denison against Grayson College at 4 p.m.