DODGE CITY

LADY CONQUISTADOR BASKETBALL

Conqs' women lose second close game

By John Curtis www.dodgeglobe.com

The Dodge City Conquistadors women's basketball team let their second straight conference game slip through their fingers as the Cloud County Thunderbirds made more plays down the stretch in an 81-78 victory at the Civic Center.
The Conqs had battled back from a 10-point deficit to take a 68-67 lead with six minutes remaining, but again suffered a letdown in the final three minutes in falling to 12-4 overall and 0-2 in the Western division.

"It's more of a mental toughness rather than a physical one," said Dodge City women's basketball head coach Jim Turgeon. "They (Cloud) played tough, but we battled back a little bit. But it's two games in a row where we weren't tough enough to get stops or mentally tough enough to execute our offense.

"It's really disappointing to have two games in a row where we're thinking woulda, coulda, shoulda. We just didn't get it done."

Turgeon said the Conqs needed to play a full-court game, but Cloud County (15-1, 3-0) was able to run its half-court offense for most of the game against Dodge City, particularly in the second half when the T-Birds shot 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) from the field.

"They gave us no surprises. We knew what they were going to do," Turgeon said. "I don't believe the kids believe in what the coaching staff is trying to do."

Dodge City was able to play its game in the first half  making 16-of-29 shots in the first 20 minutes -- but still trailed Cloud County 43-42 at intermission.

Cloud County was able to extend its lead to 59-49 with 13 minutes left, but the Conqs went on a 19-8 run to take a 68-67 lead with six minutes remaining.

The two teams traded baskets for most of the remainder of the game, but the T-Birds were able to make one more stop to take the lead for good with less than two minutes remaining.

Dodge City had a couple of chances to tie the game and send it to overtime, but one chance ended in a turnover and the second ended on a three-point shot that hit the front of the rim.

Sophomore post player Aroha Jennings and sophomore guard Beth Troutt scored 25 points apiece to lead the Conqs in scoring. The only other Dodge City players to score in double figures were sophomore guard Seda Erdogan and freshman post Patrice McKenzie with 11 points apiece.

Simone Nelson led five Cloud County double figure scorers with 20 points, while Kelsey Nelson added 17 and Stanecia Graham 15.

The Conqs' next game will be at 6 p.m. Saturday on the road against Garden City.

CLOUD COUNTY (81) Q Moylan 1-4 0-0 2, Calvin 0-2 0-0 0, Bapoo 0-3 0-0 0, Zabel 2-2 0-0 4, S. Nelson 9-13 2-2 20, Klug 5-5 0-0 11, Graham 7-12 1-2 15, K. Nelson 5-8 7-10 17, Miller 5-14 2-2 12. Totals 34-63 12-16 81.

DODGE CITY (78) Q Snell 1-4 2-4 4, Erdogan 4-11 1-2 11, Gonzales 0-2 0-0 0, McKenzie 4-7 3-5 11, Jennings 10-18 4-5 25, Troutt 10-14 3-3 25, Freeman 1-5 0-0 2, Beckerman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-61 13-19 78.

Halftime Cloud County 43, Dodge City 42. Three-point baskets Cloud County 1-6 (Moylan 0-3, Calvin 0-1, S. Nelson 0-1, Klug 1-1), Dodge City 5-12 (Snell 0-1, Erdogan 2-5, Gonzales 0-1, Jennings 1-2, Troutt 2-3). Rebounds Cloud County 38 (Graham 13), Dodge City 30 (Snell 7). Assists Cloud County 18 (Klug 6), Dodge City 17 (Snell 5). Fouled out Miller. Total fouls Cloud County 19, Dodge City 13. Technicals Erdogan, Cloud County bench. Records  Cloud County 15-1 (3-0), Dodge City 12-4 (0-2).