Box Score DODGE CITY, Kan. -- The Dodge City Community College men's basketball team found itself in tight contest with North Platte early in the second half as the Conquistadors were clinging to a 33-31 lead when their press finally paid dividends - and while it lasted only for a few minutes - it was enough for Dodge City to pull away.
A 12-0 run by the Conqs boosted their advantage to 14 points and the Knights never got within eight the rest of the half during Dodge City's 75-61 victory Tuesday evening at the Civic Center in its home opener.
"We just turned it over too much in the first half and we could never get set in our press," DC3 coach Kyle Campbell said. "When we can't press, we struggle in the half court because we just aren't very good in the half court yet. It was one of those deals where we had to finish and make the right plays and take the opportunity to make that extra pass to guys under the hoop and we did those things early in the second half.
"It allowed us to get into our press, which is a lot better for us to get that tempo going."
The run started when DC3's Josh Boutte drained a jumper with 17:49 left in the contest to make it 35-31 over the previously undefeated Knights (2-1)The score was 36-31 when a trio of three-point trips down the floor for the Conqs (3-0) - a
James Newton three-point play, a
Jamie Rutherford 3-pointer and a Newton 3-pointer - inflated the DC3 advantage to 45-31 with 15:01 remaining in the game.
From there the Dodge City lead grew to as much as 18 in the second half and to as little as eight as the Conquistadors weren't threatened the rest of the way.
"It's a good win - that's a good team there and it shows us how we are going to have to play this weekend against two tough teams," Campbell said.
Guards
Lorenzo Dillard and Newton paced DC3 with Dillard finishing with 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals while Newton had 20 points, four assists and two steals.
Jamie Rutherford added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists as well for DC3.
North Platte's Tyree Peter had 12 points and 10 rebounds while Jordan Mills had 12 points as well.
DC3's defense held North Platte to 40.4 percent shooting while the Conqs shot 50 percent from the field.
The Conqs travel to take on No. 11 Trinity Valley on Friday and Panola College on Saturday.
