11th ranked Dodge city too much for T-Birds

Surrendering more points than they have yet this season, the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds suffered a 91-72 Jayhawk Conference loss to 11th-ranked Dodge City Community College Wednesday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
Dodge City had four players score in double figures and knocked down 15 of 34 three-point attempts on its way to defeating Cloud County for the second time this season.
It was the third consecutive loss for the T-Birds, who are now 12-10 overall and 8-9 in conference play.
"Dodge City is a good team and I think they played really well. We probably made them look a little better than they even are," Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. "I thought we looked a little slow, mentally and physically."
Cloud County went the first 4:02 of the game without a field goal and fell behind Dodge City, 13-1.
Josephine Igherighe scored with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter to make it a 13-3 game.
Igherighe led all scorers with 23 points. She was 7 of 14 from the field and 9 of 12 from the free throw line and also grabbed eight rebounds.
The two teams traded baskets and Dodge City scored six straights points to push its lead to 21-5.
Scoring 10 points in the final three minutes of the period, the T-Birds made it a 27-15 game.
Maimouna Sissoko scored the first two points of the second quarter, and Cloud County trailed just 27-17.
Dodge City, 20-3 overall and 14-3 in the conference, got two three-point baskets by Paris Santacaterina during a quick 8-0 spurt that made it 35-17.
"They have shooters all over the floor. They are, if not the best shooting team in the region, it is them and Hutch," Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County scored the next seven points to close the gap to 35-24.
An 11-0 run pushed Dodge City's advantage to 46-24.
Outscoring the Conquistadors 10-6 over the final four minutes of the first half, the T-Birds were down 51-34.
A three-point basket by Bailey Burns nine seconds into the second half left Cloud County trailing 51-37.
Burns scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds for the T-Birds.
A three by Layla-J Cameron and a basket by Parris Atkins gave Dodge City a 56-37 cushion.
Cloud County would get no closer than 17 points.
The Conquistadors extended its lead to as many as 25 points on its way to the win.
"I thought at times we were okay on both ends, but in a game like that our lack of depth really shows," Erkenbrack said. "We made some plays here and there but it was just not enough."
Destiny Smith scored 11 points for Cloud County.
Sissoko finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Atkins paced Dodge City with 19 points. Paris Santacaterina scored 18. Cameron finished with 16 and Kyriana Jones added 12.
Cloud County is on the road to play undefeated and second-ranked Hutchinson Community College on Saturday.