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Conquistadors overcome more
adversity in close win over Busters
By John Curtis www.dodgeglobe.com
The Dodge City Conquistadors women's basketball team has had
to overcome a number of obstacles in trying to learn how to play in the Jayhawk
West division.
The Conqs overcame those obstacles and the extra adversity of
not having their best all-around player Saturday night with a 69-66 victory over
the Garden City Broncbusters in a Jayhawk West shootout at the Civic Center.
The home team had to play their match against their rivals with only nine
players dressed out after sophomore shooting guard Seda Erdogan left to return
to her native Turkey for a family emergency.
“It was a great loss because she’s a big part of our team, but at the same time,
this team has to face adversity and we have to keep going on believing in
ourselves,” said sophomore post Aroha Jennings. “The coaches have us believe in
that and we believe in ourselves, and whenever you have that believe in each
other, then we can achieve anything.”
Dodge City (18-6, 6-4 Jayhawk West) outscored Garden City 8-3 in the final 90
seconds of the game on field goals by Jennings and Patrice McKenzie and four
free throws.
On defense, the Conqs forced three Busters’ turnovers and turned the defense up
to keep Garden City from shooting a potential tying three-pointer before the
final buzzer went off.
With the added loss of Erdogan, the Conqs had to change their style of play, and
Dodge City head coach Jim Turgeon was pleased the team not only in their
adjustment, but also in their play down the stretch.
“I just couldn’t be more prouder of this group of girls,” Turgeon said. “To play
with that kind of composure without our leader, and that caliber of player, and
to stick together and beat a good Garden City team; I’m just very happy.
“If you look at our scores, we’ve lost a couple of close games early. Now we’re
winning the close games, so that tells me the girls have learned from our past.
As a coach, that’s very important and that’s what you want to see.”
Jennings led the Conqs with 23 points and three steals, while Beth Troutt added
19 and Chanelle Freeman 11 in her first start of the season. McKenzie tied for
the rebound lead with Freeman with eight boards, and also had eight assists.
The one area Turgeon is still concerned with when it comes to the Conqs is the
turnovers they have been giving up. Dodge City turned the ball over 14 times
(nine in the first half).
“A lot of that (Saturday) had to do with adjustments (of players to new
positions), especially with (Jennings) at the three.
“So in the second half, we put Nicole Beckerman at the three and moved Aroha
back to the post, and that made a lot of difference.”
Ebony Allen led Garden City (11-14, 4-7) with 16 points, while Jennifer Salazar
added 13 and Della De La Torre 12 in the loss.
The Conqs will next play at Cloud County in a 6 p.m. Wednesday tipoff at
Concordia. The Thunderbirds are 22-3 overall and second in the Jayhawk West at
9-2.
GARDEN CITY (66) Q Opplinger 4-12 0-0 10, Curtis 1-6 2-2 4, Garrison 0-0 0-0 0,
Berry 2-3 0-0 4, Salazar 3-10 4-4 13, Freeman 0-2 0-0 0, Kuhlman 2-4 3-3 7,
Allen 7-11 0-0 16, De La Torre 4-8 1-2 12. Totals 23-56 10-11 66.
DODGE CITY (69) Q Snell 2-8 1-2 5, Gonzales 1-2 0-0 2, McKenzie 3-4 0-0 6,
Jennings 8-12 4-6 23, Troutt 7-16 2-3 19, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Freeman 5-11 1-2 11,
Beckerman 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 27-55 8-13 69.
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