Conqs get split to open KJCCC play

INDEPENDENCE, KAN. — The Dodge City Community College basketball teams traveled to southeast Kansas to open up Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference play on Wednesday evening inside the ICC Field House. The women’s team picked up a double-overtime win over the Pirates, 76-70, while the men fell 85-57.

The women’s game provided a lot of excitement throughout regulation. The Conqs led by eight, 49-41 going into the fourth quarter, but would quickly see their lead dwindle down. The Pirates battled back and tied the game up at 66 apiece with 32.8 seconds to go. Dodge City’s chance of a last-second shot was off the mark and the game would then head to overtime. The Conqs were 2-14 from the free throw line in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The Conqs trailed in overtime, 62-60, but would then take a 63-62 lead on a three-pointer from Fredrionna Adams to help spark a little bit of momentum. The Pirates would then battle back and take a 66-65 lead with 1:12 to go in overtime. The Conqs would connect on 1-of-2 free throws with 32.8 seconds to go to tie the game and would hold the Pirates scoreless to send the game to a second overtime tied at 66.

The Conqs fell behind by four in the second overtime, 70-66 with 3:35 remaining, but the tides would quickly change. Dodge City’s defense stepped up to the task and held the Pirates scoreless the final 3:35 of the game. The Conqs would end the game on a 10-0 run to get the win.

Makaela Ewing led the Conqs with a season-high 18 points, while Ashia Pool added 11 and Ashley Nelson with 10. The Conqs are now 6-3 on the season and 1-0 in KJCCC play. They’ll try to extend on their current four-game winning streak when they play host to Neosho (4-6, 1-0) on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. inside the Student Activity Center.

The Dodge City men’s team got off to a rocky start and was never able to recover from that. The Conqs got behind 12-0 before they knew what hit them. UniQue Mency got the Conqs on the scoreboard on a three-pointer with 14:01 to go in the first half.

Dodge City struggled to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball and when they would, Independence would have an answer on the other end. The Conqs struggled to get the ball down low to Jyrus Freels, who had been averaging a double-double a game. Freels would finish with a season-low 10 points in the contest.

Independence led by 20 at the half, 46-26 and would never look back. The Pirates started the second half just as they began the first half, with hot shooting and great defense.

Justice Dixon led the way for the Conqs offense with 15 points, while Kevin Howard added 14. Dodge City falls to 5-4 on the season and 0-1 in KJCCC play. They’ll try to rebound on Saturday when they play host to Neosho (7-2, 1-0) with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Student Activity Center.

RADIO: 99.1 FM-KSKZ

STREAM: westernkansasnews.com/KSKZ

MOBILE: KSKZ App