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OFFENSIVE DROUGHT
Panthers scoring woes continue in loss
spt mm Warren 55
Great Bend High School junior post player Nick Warren elevates for a jump shot in the lane, beating the buzzer and closing Dodge Citys lead to 23-19 at the end of three quarters on Friday night at Panther Fieldhouse. Also pictured, at right, is Panthers senior Ethan Henderson. The Red Demons, bidding for a three-peat at Western Athletic Conference champions, held on for a 35-28 win to move one game within clinching the league crown. - photo by Mack McClure Great Bend Tribune

Great Bend High School tried to let the air out of the basketball Friday night, a byproduct of the Panthers’ pace-driven, deliberate ways.
While GBHS was successful in defending Dodge City, limiting the two-time Western Athletic Conference defending champions to under 40 points, the Panthers struggled mightily on the offensive end, falling to the Red Demons 35-28.
“We’re not executing offensively very well,” Great Bend head coach Chris Battin said. “We’re getting pushed off the half-court and not being very strong.
“We’ve got to attack offensively. We’re still wanting good shots, but at the same time, we want to attack and we’re not doing that right now. We’ve got to find a way to score baskets.”
It was the sixth straight loss for the Panthers (5-13, 2-4), while Dodge City (11-7, 5-1) moves one win from its third straight league crown. The Demons can wrap it up with a triumph over Hays on Tuesday night.
“We’ve been in these types of games before,” Dodge City head coach Dennis Hamilton said of the slow-paced, half-court style. “We told the kids that it’s going to be a possession, low-scoring game and our guys were aware of it.
“You’ve just got to be able to execute.”
GBHS shooting guard Gabe Joiner, who finished with a team-high 11 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the game, giving the Panthers an early 6-2 lead at the six-minute mark.
But the Panthers, who fell behind 7-6 after one period, didn’t score again until Dillon Reiser’s basket with 2:40 remaining before halftime to make it 13-8, ending an 11-0 run by the Demons.
Dodge City led 15-11 at halftime, and 23-19 after three quarters after Great Bend’s Nick Warren hit a jumper in the lane just before the buzzer.
Joiner tried to bring the Panthers back in the fourth. He hit a jumper from the wing and then added his third 3 with 4:41 remaining, pulling GBHS within 28-24.
After Rashaan Taylor’s basket pushed Dodge’s lead up to 30-24, Great Bend’s Ethan Henderson scored off his own follow shot, but was whistled for a charging foul with 3½ minutes left, wiping out the basket.
Jace Larson hit a jump hook on the other end to give Dodge City a 32-23 lead with 2:40 remaining, as it held on down the stretch.
Larson and Matt Goedeken scored eight points apiece to lead the Demons.

GAME NOTES — Hall of Fame inductees Karla (Bender) Leibham, a 1968 graduate of GBHS, and Bill McKown, a 1974 alum, were recognized between the boys’ and girls’ games.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Western Athletic Conference

BOYS

Friday

At Great Bend
Panther Fieldhouse

Dodge City High School 35,
Great Bend 28
DODGE CITY (11-7, 5-1)
     Rashaan Taylor 2 0-0 5, Jackson Oldham 0 0-0 0, Zach Norton 0 0-0 0, Shapan Gross 3 3-4 9, Austin Weiser 2 0-0 5, Jordan Doan 0 2-2 2, Kelan Newton 0 0-0 0, Jace Larson 3 0-0 6, Matt Goedeken 4 0-2 8. Totals 14 5-8 35.
GREAT BEND (5-13, 2-4)
     Trey Ibarra 0 0-0 0, Chad Touslee 0 1-2 1, Brock Ibarra 0 0-0 0, Bryce Beck 1 4-4 6, Dillon Reiser 1 0-1 2, Gabe Joiner 4 0-0 11, Ethan Henderson 2 0-0 4, Josh Lutz 0 2-2 2, Nick Warren 1 0-2 2. Totals 9 7-11 28.
Dodge City              7   8   8  12  —  35
Great Bend               6   5   8   9   —  28
     Three-point goals — Great Bend 3 (Joiner 3); Dodge City 2 (Taylor, Weiser). Total fouls — Great Bend 16, Dodge City 12. Fouled out — Great Bend (Henderson).