BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend Panther Emilee Hall dug deep for a valiant effort in a hard-luck 58-22 Western Athletic Conference basketball loss to 6A powerhouse Dodge City Tuesday. The Panthers' boys basketball crowd appreciated her heart and effort.
Hall bravely drove into the heart of Dodge City's ferocious defense for 12 points. She dished out two assists and had two steals. Sadie Spray was also a warrior with five rebounds and five points.
Dodge City simply had too much speed on the perimeter and strength inside that overpowered the Panthers. Camree Johnson, the WAC's most talented player, made it look easy with 22 points off stylish drives to the basket and mid-range field goals. The Panthers were unable to slow Johnson down. Becca Unruh contributed 11 points and five assists. Victoria Gonzalez had nine points with five steals.
The Red Demons (9-2, 1-1) roared to a quick start with intense full-court defense that led to an early 10-5 lead. The Panthers responded for a 12-12 tie with spectacular offense. Melyne Fletchall and Spray drilled 3-pointers and Hall chipped in four points.
But Dodge City's aggressive defense outscored the Panthers 16-2 in the second period and 18-0 in the final quarter. Dodge City had 17 steals that led to 21 Panther turnovers, several which turned into easy transition baskets.
"They took us out of what we wanted to do," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "We went through spurts where we weren't getting shots. We're making the same mistakes over-and-over. If we want to grow as a basketball team, we've got to get that fixed."
On a rare occasion, Beck saw the Panthers' effort go low at points.
"You can't take plays off," she said. "You've got to learn from it. We have to play a four-quarter game. We've got to be better."
The Panthers converted 8 of 29 field goals for 20% to go with the 21 turnovers.
Dodge City 14 16 10 18 — 58
Great Bend 12 2 8 0 — 22
DODGE CITY (9-2, 1-1)—Unruh 4-11 0-0 11, Gere 0-2 2-2 2, Johnson 7-9 7-8 22, Clark 1-5 0-0 2, Gonzalez 4-9 0-0 9, Potts 1-4 4-10 6, Landa 2-3 0-0 6, Totals 19-43 15-22 58.
GREAT BEND (2-8, 0-3)—Hall 4-8 2-2 12, Spray 2-5 0-2 5, Thexton 0-1 0-1 0, Fletchall 1-4 0-0 3, Emma Loomis 0-2 0-0 0, Tinkler 0-1 0-0 0, Kaiser 0-10 2-2 2, Premer 1-7 0-0 2, Kara Feist 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 8-39 4-7 22.
3-pointers—DC (Landa 2-3, Johnson 1-1, Gonzalez 1-4, Unruh 1-6, Gere 0-1, Clark 0-2), GB 2-12 (Spray 1-2, Fletchall 1-2, Emma Loomis 0-1, Thexton 0-1, Tinkler 0-1, Kaiser 0-5). Rebounds—DC 39 (Gere 9); GB 20 (Spray 5). Assists—DC 14 (Unruh 5); GB 6 (Hall 2). Steals—DC 17 (Gonzalez 5); GB 4 (Hall 2, Spray 2).
