Dodge City Takes WAC Title at Lady Red’s Expense

Dodge City did it again.  They used their zone for force Liberal into a sluggish offensive showing as the Lady Demons won the WAC title 35-32 over LHS Thursday night on Senior Night in the Big House.  In nearly a carbon copy from the game January 13 at Dodge City, Liberal committed 16 turnovers and shot 33 percent.

Liberal’s biggest mistake was falling behind early, allowing Dodge City to run clock and run offense.  The Lady Demons led 9-8 after one quarter.  The Lady Red might have played their worst basketball of the season in the second quarter as DCHS outscored Liberal 11-4.  DCHS led 20-10 and 20-12 at halftime.  Dodge City extended their lead to 25-12 with 6:09 to play.  A Hailey
Contreras three pointer before the end of the third quarter made it 26-23 DCHS after three.  Keyona Hall’s right corner three gave the Lady Redskins a 31-30 lead with 2:24 to play.  Shamari Lewis split a pair of free throws with 1:07 left to tie the game at 32-32.  Dodge City maintained possession of the ball from the 1:07 mark until Dodge City’s Becca Unruh buried a right wing three pointer with 1.5 second left to give Dodge City the 35-32 lead.

Liberal shot 33 percent going 13-40 from the field.  LHS was 3-14 from three and 3-6 from the foul line.  Dodge City shot 37 percent and hit 5-13 from three and went 8-14 at the foul line.  Dodge won despite 17 turnovers.

Hallie West and Shamari Lewis scored eight a piece in the loss.

Dodge City has won six of the last seven against Liberal.  DCHS is 10-10 overall and wins the WAC at 6-2.  The Lady Demons have won the WAC two of the past three years.  Liberal falls to 16-3 overall and 6-2 in the WAC.  Liberal will host Junction City in 6A sub state Wednesday night in the Big House on 1270 and 92.3.