Saturday, February 15, 2025

Tough second quarter dooms T-Birds, fall to Dodge City 77-69

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Going blow for blow for three quarters, a crucial second quarter doomed the Thunderbirds, causing the home loss, 77-69, to Jayhawk Conference foe Dodge City.

Cloud opened up with a quick 4-0 run to start the game, and built their lead up to seven points, 12-5, with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter. Dodge City was able tie the game up with 30 seconds left in the quarter, tied at 13 all.

The Thunderbirds would strike first in the second quarter thanks to a Talasia Thomas layup. Both teams would go back and forth scoring baskets before the Conquistadors finally nabbed the lead with 5:01 remaining. Dodge City would build its lead up to 10 points, 31-21, with 2:17 remaining, and held a 34-24 point lead entering halftime, outscoring the T-Birds by 10 critical points.

The T-Birds shot 25 percent from the field in the quarter while Dodge City shot 61.5 percent from the field.

Cloud would do its best to eliminate the lead, but could not get it below seven points in the quarter. For every shot Cloud made, the Conqs responded and entered the fourth quarter leading 59-50.

Cloud shot 50 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep, while Dodge City shot 47 percent from the field, and 45.5 percent from deep.

The back and forth continued for both teams. Cloud would get the lead down to four points with two Shea Wurtz free throws with 1:44 remaining, before Dodge City slammed the door on the ‘Birds, getting the lead back up to eight and holding Cloud off the board, handing the T-Birds a 77-69 loss.

DaNae Crosby had 21 points and three steals.

Thomas had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Wurtz had 13 points, seven rebounds, and five steals.

TiAna Davis had 11 points, and six rebounds.

Traveling to Seward, the Knights downed the T-Birds 68-41 to hand the ‘Birds their largest loss of the season.

After finding themselves down 16-11 in the first quarter, a terrible second quarter saw the T-Birds only score five points compared to Sewards’ 16, putting the T-Birds in a 32-16 hole at halftime.

Cloud would start to get back in the game, outscoring the Knights 16-10 in the third quarter. Finding themselves down 42-32 entering the fourth quarter, another poor shooting streak happened and Cloud was held to only nine points, while Seward exploded for 26 fourth-quarter points. The 27-point difference would be the largest negative point difference on the season.

Cloud shot 27.1 percent from the floor,

Thomas had nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.

Davis had seven points and two steals.

Bre Frazier had seven points and three rebounds.

Lauren Marron had seven points off the bench.