BY JIM MISUNAS
When Great Bend point guard Alex Schremmer gets rolling, the Panthers are a challenge to defend.
Schremmer scored the Panthers’ first 11 points and exploited Dodge City for 23 points, four steals and four assists in Friday’s 69-53 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory.
“When you make a couple baskets, you get a good feeling that night,” Schremmer said. “When they get a hand up, you try and drive past them and get a kickout shot for somebody. That helps get everyone involved.”
Great Bend coach Tim Brooks saw Schremmer make the correct play after the Red Demons tried to trap him defensively.
“Alex got us going and Dodge City did things defensively to slow him down,” Brooks said. “Because of that, our other guys got good open looks. Alex trusted his teammates and made the extra pass.”
Dalton Miller benefited with a 16-point night. Payton Duvall added eight points. The Panthers converted 10 of 25 3-pointers to outscore the Red Demons 30-15 from long range.
“We’re clicking at the right time,” Schremmer said. “We’re working better as a team and developing better chemistry.
The Panthers’ defense keyed a crucial 20-3 stretch that turned a 39-39 tie into a 57-42 lead in the fourth quarter.
Defensive sparkplug Brock Blessing triggered the defense by drawing three charges – 25 for the season.
“Brock is pretty impressive,” Schremmer said. “I don’t know another man who does that.”
Trent Stueder hit two baskets. Sam Ryan, Duvall and Brock Blessing hit 3-pointers off assists by Miller, Schremmer and Sam Ryan. Schremmer capped the streak with three free throws off a technical foul on Dodge City coach Tony Starnes.
“It was defense that turned the momentum,” Brooks said. “We got stops and made a run of our own.”
The Panthers (7-12) moved ahead of Valley Center (6-12) for the 15th western substate seed. If the Panthers upset Liberal Saturday, they have a shot of forcing a tiebreaker with Salina South (8-10) and Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (8-12). Salina South plays Maize Tuesday and Newton Feb. 22.
Great Bend has played three of most effective games in fast-paced games against Dodge City twice and Hays High at home.
DC 13 16 11 13—53
GB 22 12 15 20—69
DODGE CITY (9-9, 2-4)—Johnson 5-7 8-12 18, Mendoza 5-13 0-0 14, Sowers 3-10 5-9 12, Vela 2-3 0-2 4, Friess 1-5 0-0 3, Ibarra 0-3 3-4 3, Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 16-44 16-27 53
GREAT BEND (7-12, 3-4)—Schremmer 6-10 8-9 23, Miller 6-8 2-4 16, Sam Ryan 2-3 1-2 7, Stueder 2-3 1-2 5, Widiger 2-7 0-0 5, Blessing 1-2 0-3 3, Wondra 1-4 0-0 2,Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-44 15-24 69
Technicals—DC coach Starnes 2 (ejected). 3-pointers—DC 5-21 (Mendoza 4-12, Sowers 1-3, Ibarra 0-1, Friess 0-2, Smith 0-3), GB 10-23 (Schremmer 3-6, Miller 2-2, Ryan 2-3, Blessing 1-1, Duvall 1-4, Widiger 1-5, Wondra 0-2); Rebounds—DC 37 (Johnson 13), GB 24 (Schremmer 4, Widiger 4); Assists—DC 0, GB 13 (Schremmer 4); Steals—DC 6 (Sowers 2), GB 9 (Schremmer 4)
