Garden City loses rivalry game

By Mike Pilosof

Photos by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-More often than not, one loss doesn't define your season. But in a rivalry showdown against a team that hadn't won a conference game in more than a year, you can understand why Patrick Nee was visibly upset following Sunday's loss.

Mason Senigaur scored a season-high 25 points and pulled down a career-best 14 rebounds, Quindarius Thomas had 12 points, and Dodge City snapped a 23-game conference losing streak with a 90-81 victory at Conestoga Arena. It was the Conquistadors first Jayhawk win since Jan. 14, 2019 vs. Colby.

"Until we get our hearts in the right place, we're not going to win games," Nee said afterwards. "We are not a very good team."

Garden City dropped their third straight game and had their second-worst shooting performance of the season-28-of-77 (36 percent). They also missed 25 of their 32 3-point attempts.

"We played with absolutely no energy," Nee said. "That's the frustrating part about all of this."

The flu and injury bug haven't helped either.

Late during Saturday's practice, Traylynn Spencer sprained his ankle. Compound that with three Broncbusters sitting out with flu-like symptoms, and Nee was left with an eight-man rotation that had four guys logging 27 or more minutes. Still, the Broncbusters were beaten by a less talented team.

"At this point, I'm running out of answers," Nee explained.

Dodge City, who had lost seven straight games entering Sunday's contest, built an early seven-point lead following DeJuan Horne's 16-foot jumper that made it 20-13 with 12:28 remaining in the first half. They stretched that to as many as nine in the opening frame when Myron Washington grabbed Derrick Bryant's missed layup; went coast to coast and threw down a two-handed jam that put the Conquistadors up 27-18.

"We have to play with more energy," Nee said. "It's as simple as that."

The Broncbusters stormed back with nine straight points, capped off with two made free throws by Spencer to knot the game at 27. But the Conquistadors answered right back. Thomas nailed a 3, and Dodge City outscored Garden City 19-12 over the final 6:50 to take a 46-39 lead into the break.

"We don't do the little things well right now," Nee said. "Those little things turn into big things."

The second half started with Thomas burying two free throws and Senigaur putting back home his own miss, extending Dodge City's lead to 50-39.

"They jumped all over us from the start," Nee said. "We had no answer."

Garden City did trim the deficit to three following Tahlik Chavez's layup that pulled the Broncbusters to within 58-55 with 15:03 to play. But that's as close as the they got the rest of the way. Washington slashed to the goal for a deuce moments later, and then, following a Michael Frazier turnover, Kevin McGaskey beat two Broncbusters to the rim for a layup, pushing the lead back to 10.

"We are not going to give up as a staff," Nee said. "Our job now is to get this team ready to play Colby on Wednesday."

Dodge City enjoyed their best shooting day since Nov. 21, going 37-of-75 from the floor (49 percent). They outrebounded Garden City 47-37, and McGaskey dished out 11 of the team's 17 assists. He finished with nine points in 34 minutes, and Miles Ray chipped in 10 points and seven boards.

Chavez scored 23 for Garden City, but was just 3-of-14 from downtown. Spencer tallied 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench, but was clearly not 100 percent.

Next up: Garden City at Colby-Wed., Jan. 29-7:30 p.m. on 99.9 FM; westernkansasnews.com/kwkr and KWKR mobile app