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Panther boys clinch postseason homecourt
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Members of the 2021 GBMS volleyball team are front row—Lainey Smith, Jadynce Schroeder, Shatarah Newton, Henley Nairn, Rhett Nairn; second row—Hayley Suchy, Allie Gerhardt, Braelyn Turner, Kaitlyn Dreiling, Camryn Post, Alyvia Batchman, Miya Nachtigal, Kamryn Koelsch, Kya Behr, Meredith Mazouch, MacKenzie Lindberg, Jaselyn Werth, Heidi Jording, Braylee Carper, Kynli Shull; third row—Maddison Gaddis, Sophia Cale, Remmi Burkes, Katelyn Roddey, Ava Kaiser, Lydia Schaub, Alex Mayers, Araceli Aguilera, Zoey Mayberry, Sophia Elsen. back row—Naima Zapita, Gabriella Tomlin, Chalya Prenderegast, Kourtnee Leech, Olivia Boone, Madelynne Siefkes, Kimmy Hofflinger, Katherine Mazouch, Denver Ringo, Tatum Anderson, Alyssa McCulley, Kyra Lewis.

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DODGE CITY – Supersub Cal Dunekack ignited a game-deciding second quarter as Great Bend's 57-48 basketball victory over Dodge City Friday clinched 5A homecourt advantage for the Panthers.

Dunekack hustled for a rebound basket, converted a 3-pointer and blocked a shot and Bryce Brown scored six first-half points in a critical 20-7 second quarter for a 33-19 halftime lead. 

"The second quarter is what won us the game," said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. "The guys were active off the bench and gave us a lift. Bryce Brown got a couple runouts and Cal Dunekack continues to play with confidence."

Great Bend (15-4, 6-1 WAC) earn a homecourt advantage for 5A postseason. The Panthers need to beat Liberal Saturday to clinch a share of the Western Athletic Conference title with Hays High.

As usual, point guard Alex Schremmer weaved his magic with 18 points, including the Panthers' final nine points. Peyton Duvall scored 10 points. Dunekack and Alex Olivas each added eight points. The Panthers knocked down 9 of 25 3-pointers to outscore the Red Demons 27-6. Schremmer hit a trio of 3-pointers and Olivas and Dunekack each hit a pair.

Dodge City (4-15, 1-6) didn't force its typical fast pace with fullcourt pressure. The Panthers dished out 16 assists as Schremmer and Dalton Miller each had four assists. A few easy Great Bend transition scores made the difference.

"Offensively, we did well and got out and ran the court," Brooks said. "We found the open man."

The Panthers had no defensive answer for Dodge City's hard-driving John Johnson, who delivered 24 points and 13 rebounds in a dominating performance. The Red Demons converted 2 of 15 3-pointers.

"Johnson was super active and hurt us in the blocks," Brooks said. "Johnson was tough to defend tonight." 

GREAT BEND 57, DODGE CITY 48 

Great Bend 13 20 12 12 – 57

Dodge City 12 7 10 19 – 48

GREAT BEND (15-4, 6-1)–Schremmer 6-13 3-5 18, Duvall 4-9 1-2 10, Dunekack 3-4 0-0 8, Olivas 3-7 0-0 8, Brown 3-7 0-0 6, Kuhlman 2-5 0-1 5, Miller 1-2 0-2 2, Sam Ryan 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 22-49 4-10 57.

DODGE CITY (4-15, 1-6)–Johnson 8-11 8-10 24, Isaiah Taylor 1-1 1-2 3, Smith 2-5 1-2 5, Harshberger 3-6 2-4 8, Cox 1-2 0-0 2, Scheck 0-9 0-0 0, Dawson Taylor 1-4 0-0 3, Sowers 1-3 0-0 3, Totals 17-41 12-18 48.

3-pointers–GB 9-25 (Schremmer 3-10, Dunekack 2-3, Olivas 2-6, Kuhlman 1-1, Duvall 1-4, Brown 0-1); DC 2-15 (Sowers 1-2, Taylor 1-3, Johnson 0-1, Smith 0-1, Scheck 0-8). Rebounds–GB 26 (Olivas 5, Miller 5); DC 32 (Johnson 13). Assists–GB 16 (Schremmer 4, Miller 4); DC 11 (Scheck 4). Steals–GB 9 (Duvall 2, Schremmer 2, Miller 2), DC 2 (Smith 1, Harshberger 1).