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NEWTON — After two close losses at Ravenscroft Gym this season, the Dodge City Red Demon girls finally pulled away a win, stopping rival Garden City 59-48 Friday in the consolation semifinals of the 34th Newton Invitational.
Ranked No. 10 in Class 6A, Dodge City (8-3) faces Rose Hill in the consolation finals at 2 p.m. today (the game may start early depending on the finish of the noon game). Garden City, 5-6, plays Olathe Northwest at noon for seventh place.
“We had a lot better shooting,” Dodge City coach Justin Briggs said. “Garden City is a conference rival. We knew they would be ready to play. I thought our girls stepped up to the challenge. It was obviously one of our better defensive efforts tonight. We didn’t play a whole lot of zone. I thought our girls stepped up big for us tonight.”
Valerie Ortiz led Dodge City with 18 points, followed by Brenna Briggs with 14.
Carly Schmale led Garden City with 16 points. Paula Gonzales scored 12.
Garden City outscored Dodge City 15-6 from the free throw line. Dodge outscored Garden 15-3 from 3-point range.
“Give Schmale credit,” Justin Briggs said. “She was 12 of 14 from the line. That was pretty awesome. She was making us foul her, then knocking them down.”
A 16-3 third quarter was the difference for Dodge City.
“They got on a little run in the second quarter,” Justin Briggs said. “Momentum was on their side. Our girls responded to the challenge. We played with a lot more intensity.”
Dodge City missed its first three shots in the game, but hit the next six — including two treys — along with one of two free throws, to take a 15-6 lead in the first four minutes of play. Garden City outscored Dodge 4-0 in the final four minutes to cut the Red Demon lead to five, 15-10.
It was the first game of the tournament without a buzzer-beating basket to end the first quarter.
Dodge City ended a near-six minute scoring draught on a Bucker layup. An Ortiz trey with 35 seconds left in the half put Dodge up 24-21, but Schmale ended the half hitting three of four free throws.
The Red Demons finished the first half 10 of 22 from the field while Garden City was nine of 23. The Buffaloes outscored Dodge 5-1 from the free throw line.
The Red Demons opened the second half with a Briggs trey to start a 7-0 run. With 7:11 left in the third quarter, A’zlynn Thompson was injured on a fast-break attempt. On the other end of the court, Codi Ehrlich and Schmale collided. All three had to leave the court.
Schmale returned less than two minutes later. The two Dodge City players returned about five minutes later.
Dodge extended its lead to 13 by the end of the period, 40-27.
Garden City opened the fourth quarter on a 7-3 run to get the lead under 10. After trading points, Briggs hit two free throws with 1:48 remaining to put the Red Demons up by 11.
“We need to continue to shoot the basketball well tomorrow,” Justin Briggs said. “I thought we did a good job this weekend of rebounding. We just need to keep the hustle.”
NEWTON — After two close losses at Ravenscroft Gym this season, the Dodge City Red Demon girls finally pulled away a win, stopping rival Garden City 59-48 Friday in the consolation semifinals of the 34th Newton Invitational.
Ranked No. 10 in Class 6A, Dodge City (8-3) faces Rose Hill in the consolation finals at 2 p.m. today (the game may start early depending on the finish of the noon game). Garden City, 5-6, plays Olathe Northwest at noon for seventh place.
“We had a lot better shooting,” Dodge City coach Justin Briggs said. “Garden City is a conference rival. We knew they would be ready to play. I thought our girls stepped up to the challenge. It was obviously one of our better defensive efforts tonight. We didn’t play a whole lot of zone. I thought our girls stepped up big for us tonight.”
Valerie Ortiz led Dodge City with 18 points, followed by Brenna Briggs with 14.
Carly Schmale led Garden City with 16 points. Paula Gonzales scored 12.
Garden City outscored Dodge City 15-6 from the free throw line. Dodge outscored Garden 15-3 from 3-point range.
“Give Schmale credit,” Justin Briggs said. “She was 12 of 14 from the line. That was pretty awesome. She was making us foul her, then knocking them down.”
A 16-3 third quarter was the difference for Dodge City.
“They got on a little run in the second quarter,” Justin Briggs said. “Momentum was on their side. Our girls responded to the challenge. We played with a lot more intensity.”
Dodge City missed its first three shots in the game, but hit the next six — including two treys — along with one of two free throws, to take a 15-6 lead in the first four minutes of play. Garden City outscored Dodge 4-0 in the final four minutes to cut the Red Demon lead to five, 15-10.
It was the first game of the tournament without a buzzer-beating basket to end the first quarter.
Dodge City ended a near-six minute scoring draught on a Bucker layup. An Ortiz trey with 35 seconds left in the half put Dodge up 24-21, but Schmale ended the half hitting three of four free throws.
The Red Demons finished the first half 10 of 22 from the field while Garden City was nine of 23. The Buffaloes outscored Dodge 5-1 from the free throw line.
The Red Demons opened the second half with a Briggs trey to start a 7-0 run. With 7:11 left in the third quarter, A’zlynn Thompson was injured on a fast-break attempt. On the other end of the court, Codi Ehrlich and Schmale collided. All three had to leave the court.
Schmale returned less than two minutes later. The two Dodge City players returned about five minutes later.
Dodge extended its lead to 13 by the end of the period, 40-27.
Garden City opened the fourth quarter on a 7-3 run to get the lead under 10. After trading points, Briggs hit two free throws with 1:48 remaining to put the Red Demons up by 11.
“We need to continue to shoot the basketball well tomorrow,” Justin Briggs said. “I thought we did a good job this weekend of rebounding. We just need to keep the hustle.”
