Frustration overwhelmed the Lady Devils in their final game before the start of the new year. Allen Community College shot 32.8% from the field, a number it could not overcome in its 68-55 loss to the Conqs.
I had no idea what was going on with a couple of our kids. They were in the locker room crying. They were so upset, said head coach Rachel Janzen. You are going to have a night when the ball doesnt go in, but the kids missing their shots were making up for it on defense.
ACC and Dodge City were deadlocked at 14-14 after the first period, but the Conqs woke up to start the second. Three consecutive Dodge City buckets resulted in an ACC timeout to talk things over. Out of the timeout ACC found its groove, constructing an 8-2 run to even the score.
Courtney Crippen provided the energy offensively in the first half with nine points, along with constantly pushing the ball in transition.
She is our spark. If she is not attacking the basket we become a different team, Janzen said. With Ariel Walker having a night off, we really needed Courtney to step up, and she did.
While Crippen managed the offense, Zariah Sango made the paint her home territory on the defensive end. Sango collected three blocks in the second quarter to keep the Lady Devils within reach heading into halftime, trailing 29-26.
ACCs offense continued to struggle to start the second half. After three straight Conq baskets, Maisie Schroeders 3-pointer from the corner got the Lady Devils on the board in the third period, and was the first three to fall after failing to convert from deep in the first half. A pair of free throws from Crippen brought ACC within two, but a 13-4 Dodge City run to close the third put ACC down 48-37 heading into the fourth.
The closest ACC came in the fourth was nine, but not enough fuel was left in the tank for a comeback. Dodge City was able to hold on for the 68-55 win, giving ACC its third consecutive loss.
Still, Janzen has faith her girls will rediscover their form and get back on the winning end of things in 2020.
They will be fine. They had a great conversation together after the game, saying to each other to keep their heads and that there is a lot of talent in this room, Janzen said. As long as they believe that, we will be fine.
The Lady Devils will play next on Jan. 4 at Hutchinson Community College.
