BY JIM MISUNAS
DODGE CITY – Once Dodge City started knocking down shots, the Great Bend Panthers had no chance at pulling a road surprise.
The Red Demons (8-4, 2-0 WAC) employed a physical and aggressive style to power past the Panthers 56-37 in Friday’s Western Athletic Conference basketball game. Dodge City dominated the Panthers 34-13 in the first and fourth quarters.
Dodge City’s Cooper Loll knocked down a trio of 3-pointers for 15 points while Matt Friess dominated the paint with 15 points. The Red Demons outscored the Panthers 32-8 on 2-point goals as they dominated the paint offensively and defensively with their inside height and strength.
Great Bend coach Tim Brooks said Dodge City’s size helped alter and block Great Bend’s inside field goal attempts.
“It was a physical basketball game,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “Their length bothered us. You have to adjust and use some ball fakes inside.”
Great Bend (4-8, 1-2 WAC) was paced by Cole Streck with nine points on a trio of 3-pointers. Stefan Spray scored seven points and Sam Hall and Brayton Council each added six points. The Panthers attacked the basket to score 11 free throws.
The Panthers outscored Dodge City 25-22 in the second and third quarters. The Panthers converted six 3-pointers and four 2-point field goals.
The Panthers slowed the Red Demons with its mix of zone defenses. But Cooper Loll stretched out Great Bend’s zone defenses with a trio of 3-pointers and 11 first-half points. Four other Red Demons knocked down a 3-pointer.
Eventually, the Panthers switched to man-to-man defense, and Dodge City was able to play a much faster pace.
“We play a lot of zone defenses, but we’ve got to get better at man-to-man defense,” Brooks said.
Great Bend 8 13 12 5 – 37
Dodge City 17 12 10 17 – 56
GREAT BEND (4-8, 1-2)—Streck 3 0-0 9, Spray 1 5-6 7, Council 2 0-0 6, Hall 1 4-4 6, Koelsch 2 1-1 5, Scheuerman 1 0-0 3, Matthew Moeder 0 1-2 1, Totals 10 11-13 37
DODGE CITY (8-4, 2-0)—Cooper Loll 6 0-0 15, Friess 7 0-0 15, Sowers 4 1-1 9, Smith 3 0-0 7, Dawson Taylor 1 2-2 4, Scheck 1 0-0 3, Blain Loll 1 0-0 3, Totals 23 3-3 56
3-pointers—GB 6 (Streck 3, Council 2, Scheurerman 1); DC 7 (C. Loll 3, Smith 1, Scheck 1, B. Loll 1, Friess 1)
WESTERN ATHLETIC BOYS
Hays High 4-0 13-0
Dodge City 2-0 8-4
Garden City 1-2 5-4
Great Bend 1-2 4-8
Liberal 0-4 4-9
HAYS HIGH (5-0, 13-0)—Hays (W Hugoton 77-55; W Wichita Life 71-39; W Hays-TMP 70-42); W Hoisington 64-63; W *Liberal 62-34; W *Liberal 72-45; W *Great Bend 51-24; W *Garden City 64-42; Colby (W Ulysses 76-35; W GC 64-42; W Colby 56-47); 1-26 W Pratt 74-29; W Salina Central 47-46; 2-2 at Scott City; 2-5 *Dodge City; 2-12 at Colby; 2-16 at Abilene; 2-19 *at Garden City; 2-23 *at Dodge City; 2-26 *Great Bend
DODGE CITY (2-0, 8-4)—L Maize 35-75; W Newton 67-34; Goodland Tournament (L Lakin 71-72; W Nickerson 64-48; W McCook, Neb. 55-50); L McPherson 39-56; W Colby 69-47; W Guymon, Okla. 50-31; W *Liberal 76-65; Dodge City (L Junction City 48-52; W Goddard Eisenhower 50-37); W *Great Bend 56-37; 2-2 *at Garden City; 2-5 *at Hays High; 2-8 at Ulysses; 2-16 *Garden City; 2-19 *at Great Bend; 2-23 *Hays High; 2-25 *at Liberal
GARDEN CITY (1-2, 5-4)—L *Great Bend 38-39; L Kearney, Neb. 53-80; W *Liberal 71-54; L *Hays; W Guymon, Okla.57-55, OT Colby (W Goodland 39-33; L Hays 42-64; W Beloit 61-48); W Ulysses 62-42; 2-2 *Dodge City; 2-5 at Guymon, Okla.; 2-12 *Great Bend; 2-16 *at Dodge City; 2-19 *Hays High; 2-23 *at Liberal
GREAT BEND (1-2, 4-8)—W Scott City 51-45; L Holcomb 34-46; L Junction City 40-70; W Larned 52-24; L Emporia 52-41; W *Garden City 39-38; L *Hays High 24-51; L Hutchinson High 40-50; Bluestem (L Goddard 37-45; L Kapaun 36-66; W WWest 41-37); L * Dodge City 37-56; 2-5 *Liberal; 2-9 at Buhler; 2-12 * at Garden City; 2-16 Hays-TMP; 2-19 *Dodge City; 2-20 * at Liberal; 2-26 *at Hays High
LIBERAL (0-4, 4-9)—W Colby 49-47; L Holcomb 46-59; L Wichita Trinity 53-72; W Scott City 53-28; L Hays High 34-62; L *Hays High 45-72; L *Garden City 54-71; L *Dodge City 65-76; Salina South (L Salina South 39-51; W Concordia 43-42; L Buhler 52-66); L Gruver, Okla. 48-54; W Guymon, Okla. 52-49; 2-5 *at Great Bend; 2-9 Guymon, Okla.; 2-12 Hooker, Okla.; 2-16 at Hugoton; 2-20 *Great Bend; 2-23 *Garden City; 2-25 *Dodge City
