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In a game that featured 71 total fouls, an ejection and 87 free throw attempts, the Dodge City Community College men’s basketball team moved to 8-1 with an 81-76 victory over Labette Community College Wednesday night at the Civic Center.
The game started off hot for the Conqs, who jumped out to an early 18-8 lead behind strong play from sophomore Tyshon Pickett and R.J. McGhee, but early foul trouble would see the Conqs testing the depth of their bench early on.
Dodge City would have a hard time containing the up-tempo offense of the visiting Cardinals, who pressed the ball up the floor to catch the Conqs off their guard.
Using that offense, Labette was able to storm back into the contest, working their way back into the lead midway through the first half.
The two sides continued to trade blows as the clock wound down, hitting threes and getting big defensive stops when necessary.
Labette would get the last say as the Conqs couldn’t regain the lead, going into the half down 37-36.
In the second half, the game would take a surprising turn — one dictated by the officials.
Within the first three minutes of the second half, the two squads would combine for 13 total fouls, and both teams would be shooting two free throws not even half way through the period.
With the play being halted by free throws and foul calls, it was hard for either side to get a consistent rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, but would continue to seesaw back and forth between leads.
However, the Conqs would come out of the halftime break on fire and would once again jump out to a double digit lead, but that would quickly evaporate, as the team would go ice-cold from the free throw line while the Cardinals continued to use pressure and their perimeter play to climb back into the contest.
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with the score 67-63 and the Conqs driving down the court. Pickett received a pass from the backcourt and Labette swarmed in, committing a hard foul and in the process, did so with too much bravado. Words were exchanged and the referees felt it was necessary to eject Labette’s Terry Webb from the game.
After all was said and done, the Conqs received four technical foul free throws and possession of the ball.
Pickett stepped up to the line and calmly nailed all four free throws, extending the lead to 71-63.
The final five minutes would feature a crazy back and forth battle between the two teams on the court, as the Conqs could not put the game away, despite getting multiple free throw opportunities.
Dodge City would end up shooting as many free throws as they had field goal attempts with 52 each. However, the Conqs would be an abysmal 29 of 52 from the charity stripe for a lowly 56%, which kept the Cardinals in the contest until the final seconds.
Labette would hit key threes, but could not overcome the deficit as their final shot went wishing into the hands of a Conq defender.
The final buzzer sounded and Dodge escaped with a five-point victory, one that tested the physical and mental moxy of a team that is continually improving.
“It’s about just staying strong, staying tough, just breaking through it,” Pickett said. “We just came out and played hard and was able to walk away with the victory. Chemistry has gone great with the team and everybody, we practice great and it shows on the floor.”
Pickett led the way for all Dodge City players with 22 points, including 10 of 14 shooting from the free throw line. McGhee would add 18 points while Clarence Willard scored 13.
The Conqs will play one more home contest against York College on Dec. 1 before playing their next five games on the road. They will not return to the court in Dodge until Jan. 7.
In a game that featured 71 total fouls, an ejection and 87 free throw attempts, the Dodge City Community College men’s basketball team moved to 8-1 with an 81-76 victory over Labette Community College Wednesday night at the Civic Center.
The game started off hot for the Conqs, who jumped out to an early 18-8 lead behind strong play from sophomore Tyshon Pickett and R.J. McGhee, but early foul trouble would see the Conqs testing the depth of their bench early on.
Dodge City would have a hard time containing the up-tempo offense of the visiting Cardinals, who pressed the ball up the floor to catch the Conqs off their guard.
Using that offense, Labette was able to storm back into the contest, working their way back into the lead midway through the first half.
The two sides continued to trade blows as the clock wound down, hitting threes and getting big defensive stops when necessary.
Labette would get the last say as the Conqs couldn’t regain the lead, going into the half down 37-36.
In the second half, the game would take a surprising turn — one dictated by the officials.
Within the first three minutes of the second half, the two squads would combine for 13 total fouls, and both teams would be shooting two free throws not even half way through the period.
With the play being halted by free throws and foul calls, it was hard for either side to get a consistent rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, but would continue to seesaw back and forth between leads.
However, the Conqs would come out of the halftime break on fire and would once again jump out to a double digit lead, but that would quickly evaporate, as the team would go ice-cold from the free throw line while the Cardinals continued to use pressure and their perimeter play to climb back into the contest.
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with the score 67-63 and the Conqs driving down the court. Pickett received a pass from the backcourt and Labette swarmed in, committing a hard foul and in the process, did so with too much bravado. Words were exchanged and the referees felt it was necessary to eject Labette’s Terry Webb from the game.
After all was said and done, the Conqs received four technical foul free throws and possession of the ball.
Pickett stepped up to the line and calmly nailed all four free throws, extending the lead to 71-63.
The final five minutes would feature a crazy back and forth battle between the two teams on the court, as the Conqs could not put the game away, despite getting multiple free throw opportunities.
Dodge City would end up shooting as many free throws as they had field goal attempts with 52 each. However, the Conqs would be an abysmal 29 of 52 from the charity stripe for a lowly 56%, which kept the Cardinals in the contest until the final seconds.
Labette would hit key threes, but could not overcome the deficit as their final shot went wishing into the hands of a Conq defender.
The final buzzer sounded and Dodge escaped with a five-point victory, one that tested the physical and mental moxy of a team that is continually improving.
“It’s about just staying strong, staying tough, just breaking through it,” Pickett said. “We just came out and played hard and was able to walk away with the victory. Chemistry has gone great with the team and everybody, we practice great and it shows on the floor.”
Pickett led the way for all Dodge City players with 22 points, including 10 of 14 shooting from the free throw line. McGhee would add 18 points while Clarence Willard scored 13.
The Conqs will play one more home contest against York College on Dec. 1 before playing their next five games on the road. They will not return to the court in Dodge until Jan. 7.
