WICHITA — Guard Valerie Ortiz converted two free throws inside the game’s final minute, lifting the Dodge City High School girls’ basketball team past Wichita Sunrise 48-46 Friday night.
Wichita Sunrise, a private school, missed a pair of shots inside the 3-point arc in the final seconds, enabling the Red Demons to improve their record to 11-3 on the season.
“We missed a lot of opportunities inside with our shots,” DCHS coach Justin Briggs said of first-half play, where the Demons fell behind 21-19 at halftime.
“Our defense wasn’t where it should have been in the first half, but I think we picked things up defensively in the second half and shot the ball better.”
The Demons, trailing 38-35, outscored Sunrise 13-8 in the fourth quarter to pull out the win.
Ortiz’s free throws made it 48-44 before Sunrise made it 48-46 with a basket.
Dodge City would fail to score on its next possession, and Sunrise had a chance to tie or win the game.
“They had the ball at the end and got off a couple shots, “ Briggs said, “but they didn’t go in.”
Ortiz led the Demons with 19 points, hitting 7 of 17 shots, including 3-for-6 on 3-pointers.
Guard Brenna Briggs added 10 points, hitting 4 of 14 field goals, including 2-for-10 from 3.
Codi Ehrlich added eight points for Dodge, which returns to action on Tuesday, entertaining Hays at the DCHS Fieldhouse.
DODGE CITY —
