Dodge City women get big road win, men come up short of upset

Saturday evening’s games between Dodge City Community College and Barton Community College provided entertaining games despite the 70-47 and 93-79 final scores.

The women’s game belonged to sophomore forward Shorna Preston, who filled the stat sheet with 25 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. The Conquistadors steadily built their lead throughout the game, winning each of the four quarters by no more than eight points and no less than three on their way to the 70-47 win.

The No. 7 ranked Conquistador women are currently battling for a KJCCC Regular Season Championship and positioning in the Region VI Playoffs, in which the winner gets an automatic bid to the national tournament. Currently they are tied with Hutchinson at the top of the standings with a 17-2 record, with Coffeyville one game behind.

The Conquistador schedule will finish with Fort Hays Tech Northwest on Wednesday and a road game against Colby on Saturday, followed by their final two home games against Independence and Coffeyville, with a March. 5 regular season finale on the road against Hutchinson.

The Dodge City men came into Saturday as one of the hottest teams in the KJCCC, having won four of their last five games with two ranked wins included. They had another shot at a ranked opponent in Barton, but the No. 15 ranked Cougars found the energy to pull away late.

Freshman guard Mynor Strong put together a career-high scoring output with 29 points to lead all scorers, going five-of-six from three-point range.

The Conquistadors led by as many as 11 during their 33 minutes and 39 seconds of leading the game. With 5:18 to play, the Cougars were able to move in front for the one and only lead change of the game. Their largest lead was the 93-79 final score.

Barton scored 58 second half points and ended the game with six players in double figures. Brent Moss led the way with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

The Conquistadors head into their final five regular season games with eyes on a first-round home game during the Region VI Playoffs. Currently there are three teams tied for the No. 8 seed with 7-12 records in the conference. Dodge City is one of them and will play the other two in the final five games. They take on Fort Hays Tech Northwest on Wednesday night in Dodge City and will also play Independence on Feb. 26 at home.