Conq men, women advance in Region VI playoffs
Photo courtesy of Dodge City Athletics.
DODGE CITY–No. 13 Dodge City’s men outlasted Cloud County 87-79 in a Region VI quarterfinal game Tuesday, while the 10th-ranked Conq women held off a late Independence charge in a 67-63 win at the Student Activity Center.
In the men’s game, Cam Malray tied a career-high with 22 points and added nine rebounds for Dodge City. He was 9-for-12 from the field and got the Conqs off to a hot start, scoring six of the first eight points for Dodge.
The Conqs needed some free throws down the stretch, and though they struggled in the first half, they made 13 of their 15 attempts in the second half to lock down the game.
Dodge City shot 49% from the field in the contest, including 53% in the first half.
On top of Malray’s big night, Jason Edwards scored 19 points off the bench, DJ Jones chipped in 14 and Jacobi Sebock finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Corey Sawyer led Cloud County with 26 points.
The No. 13 Conquistadors improve to 23-8 with the win and return to action Friday when they battle Butler in the Region VI semifinal round. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
In the women’s game, Dodge City got out to a fast start and built a 15-point halftime lead. They held a double-figure advantage until the Pirates made a push early in the fourth and got the lead down as close as two with five seconds remaining, but Leah Mafua knocked down two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Bree Stephens posted a double-double for the Conqs with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Leah Mafua 17 to lead Dodge in scoring. Paris Santacaterina and Jenna Rose Mafua also each got into double figures with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Valentina Ojeda scored 23 points in the loss for Independence.
Dodge City’s win marked their 22nd consecutive victory. Earlier this season, they broke the program’s single-season wins record.
The No. 10 Conquistadors improve to 29-2 with the win and return to action Friday when they battle Coffeyville in the Region VI semifinal round. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
