DODGE CITY, Kan. -- The Dodge City Community College men's and women's basketball teams both are looking to bounce back from KJCCC losses Saturday at Cowley as they host Butler on Wednesday at the Dodge City Civic Center. The Conq women get action underway at 6 p.m. while the men play at 8 p.m.MEN
Dodge City (10-5, 1-3) vs. Butler (10-6, 2-3)
The Dodge City Community College men's basketball team will try and end its short stretch of close losses when the Conquistadors host Butler 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Dodge City Civic Center.
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DC3 has dropped four of its last five games - all games it led in the second half. Two of those losses came in overtime and another was by two points.
A key factor for the Conqs during their recent skid is free-throw shooting. DC3 is shooting 53.8 percent (64-for-119) from the free-throw line in its last three contests - all losses (two in OT). Overall, the Conqs are shooting 63.4 percent this season from the charity stripe (12th in the KJCCC).
However, the Conqs are leading the conference in field-goal percentage (49.6) - led by Josh Boutte's KJCCC-best 65.9 percent shooting from the field. The 6-foot-6 freshman also is 21st in the conference in scoring (14.1) and first in rebounding (8.9).
Leading the Conqs in scoring and assists is 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Lorenzo Dillard as he's averaging 18.4 points (sixth in the KJCCC) and 4.9 assists (third). Also averaging double figures in scoring is James Newton (13.0) while Jamil Hood (9.5) and Jamie Rutherford (9.2) are just below 10 points per game.
Butler enters the contest having dropped three of its last four, including a 78-73 loss to Cloud County at home Saturday.
The Grizzlies will let it fly from 3-point range as they are second the KJCCC in 3-pointers made (8.8) and third in 3-pointers attempted (24.3) per game.
The Grizzlies are led by a pair of guards in Caelan Neal (12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game) and Derrick Byrd (11.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game). Butler also features 6-foot-10 freshman post Ken Perkins out of Chicago that is averaging 7.3 points to go along with team highs in rebounds (5.2) and blocks (0.8).
The Grizzlies won both matchups with Dodge City last season. The Conqs last defeated Butler 74-56 Nov. 23, 2013 in Dodge City during the Dodge City Classic (the only time the teams played that season).WOMEN
Dodge City (12-3, 2-2) vs. Butler (13-3, 3-2)
After shaking off rust on the road against Cowley on Saturday - its first game since Dec. 10 - the DC3 women's basketball team is ready to bounce back as it hosts another tough opponent in Butler 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Dodge City Civic Center.
DC3, which has already matched its win total from last season, enters the contest as the top scoring team in the KJCCC at 86.7 points per contest. The Conqs are second in field goal percentage (47.4) and 3-point percentage (39.6).
The Conqs' Talisha Presley is second in the KJCCC in scoring (16.5) and assists (4.6), third in free-throw percentage (85.7), fifth in steals (2.9) and seventh in 3-point percentage (39.1). Rachel Slattery is fourth in the KJCCC in scoring (15.9) while leading the conference in rebounding (12.7), field goal percentage (69.4) and blocks (2.9). Antania Newton is third on the team in scoring and ninth in the KJCCC (14.3), second on the team and third in the conference in assists (4.4) and leads the conference in 3-point percentage (50.7). Alexus Johnson is also averaging double figures in scoring for the Conqs (11.7) and is 18th in the KJCCC - giving DC3 four players in the top 20 in scoring.
It will be a test of wills as Butler, which has won its two games since coming back from the holiday break, is second in the KJCCC in points allowed per game (48.4) and first in opponents' field goal percentage (30.4) and 3-point percentage (22.0).
The Grizzlies' defense is helped with a roster that features six players 5-foot-10 or taller, including four over 6-feet tall (DC3 has one player over 6-foot).
Butler is led in scoring by 5-foot-9 guard Tamara Lee at 12.9 points per game while 5-foot-5 guard Nakylia Carter is second on the team at 10.1 points per game. Not far behind is 6-foot-1 freshman Kyeria Hannah as she's averaging 9.8 points to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.
The Conqs are going for their first win over Butler in 17 tries, last defeating the Grizzlies during the 2005-06 season.Â
