CCCC captures win over Conquistadors

It was double-trouble for the visiting Dodge City Community College women's basketball team on Friday as the Cloud County Community College front-court duo of Scout Frame and Cassidy Haufler propelled the T-Birds to a 67-58 victory inside Arley Bryant Gymnasium.
Frame and Haufler each finished with double-doubles in the victory for Cloud County (10-3 overall, 3-1 KJCCC), which currently sits second in the KJCCC East standings only behind undefeated Butler (12-0 overall, 3-0 KJCCC) with one game remaining before Christmas break.
"This was a great win for us. Dodge City had beaten a lot of good teams coming in here," said Cloud County head coach, Brett Erkenbrack. "Dodge City has a little bit of everything and I thought they hit some big shots in the second half each time it looked like we were going to get a handle on the game."
After producing a 29-17 lead at the half — thanks in large part to a 15-4 advantage in the second quarter — the T-Birds had to scrap in the second half as the Conquistadors (7-5 overall, 2-2 KJCCC) shot 7-of-13 (54 percent) in both the third and fourth quarters.
Fortunately, the T-Birds offense was up to the take as they posted a 15-of-29 (52%) clip in the second half, keyed by big-time performances by Frame and Haufler.
Frame led the way with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Haufler followed with 18 points and 12 boards.
As a team, Cloud County finished with a 45-30 rebounding edge.
"A great game from Scout. She just made big play after big play," Erkenbrack said. "Cassidy was awesome again (Friday) as well, especially in the first half before battling some foul trouble."
The T-Birds also received important contributions from sophomore forward Mikaela Meyers off the bench with four points and six rebounds, and freshman guard Emmiley Hendrixson nearly added a double-double of her own with nine points and nine assists.
It was a tough night shooting the ball through three quarters for the Cloud County back court. The collections of Hendrixson, Lydia Ostenson, Kamryn Collins, Chase Siedlik and Chiara De Virgilio were a combined 5-of-27 entering the fourth, but took turns delivering over the final 10 minutes to help the T-Birds close out the Conquistadors.
Collins hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter that gave Cloud County its five-point cushion heading to the fourth.
Hendrixson then drilled a 3-pointer of her own when Dodge City had closed within 46-45 with 8:55 remaining; Siedlik followed with a trey at the 7:51 mark; and De Virgilio splashed home the dagger with 1:12 remaining that upped Cloud's lead to double-digits again at 67-56.
"We played with more confidence that fourth quarter than we did the entire first half and third quarter," Erkenbrack said. "I was really happy to see some people make winning-type plays, with the big shots, big rebounds and getting defensive stops when we needed them late. Just a real good win for us and we needed it."
Cloud County will now turn its attention toward a Hutchinson Community College team that will come to Concordia on Wednesday night ranked No. 8 in the country and the preseason favorites to win the KJCCC West.
The T-Birds, who defeated Hutchinson at home, 70-63, last season are looking forward to the challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
"Hutch has all five starters from last season back and will be a talented and deep team," Erkenbrack said. "Much like it usually is against Hutch, we're going to have to play well and it'll be a game we're going to have to play 40 minutes. I appreciated the fact that we had to play 40 minutes (Friday) and that was good for us to have to make plays down the stretch against good teams.”