Lady Red Doomed in Dodge Again

For a fourth consecutive time, the Liberal girls basketball team dropped a game in Dodge City.  Friday goes down as a major upset as an under .500 Dodge City team beat #3 Liberal 32-29 Friday night in the Dodge City Field House.  Dodge City’s zone held Liberal to 26 percent shooting and 19 percent in the second half as Liberal went 3-16 from the field in the second half.  Foul trouble was a major issues and starters Hailey Contreras and Elle Hatcher fouled out.

Dodge City jumped out to a 5-0 lead.  The Lady Redskins led 9-5 after one quarter.  Liberal led 13-7 before the Lady Demons rallied to tie the game at 13.  Liberal led 16-13 shortly before the end of the half and led 16-15 at halftime.  The Lady Red trailed 23-20 with 1:55 to play in the third but rallied to lead 25-23 in the third quarter.  Keyona Hall’s clutch free throws tied the game at 29-29.  Liberal had the ball in a tie game with a chance to take the final shot of the game but Dodge City’s Alex Gear provided a steal and lay up with 18 second left for the 31-29 lead.  Liberal got the ball back with 12.6 seconds left but did not get a shot up.

Liberal committed 18 turnovers and lost despite out rebounding DCHS 33-23.  Dodge City shot 39 percent while going 1-5 from three and 9-18 at the free throw line.  LHS was 1-8 from three and 8-14 at the free throw line.

Hailey Contreras led Liberal with seven points and four assists.

Liberal is 7-1 and 2-1 in the WAC.  Dodge City is 4-5 and 1-0.  Liberal opens play in the Salina Invitational Thursday at 3pm vs. Junction City with Redskin Pre-game at 2:45 on 1270 and 92.3.