by CONCORDIA, Kansas — The Cloud County Community College women’s basketball team completed an incredible come-from-behind victory Wednesday evening against Dodge City Community College to keep its season alive, storming back from a 14-point deficit to win a thrilling 70-61 overtime game in the first round of the Region VI Playoffs.
Cloud County (18-12 overall) never led during the 40 minutes of regulation and lived to tell about it, scratching and clawing their way back to force overtime before dominating the extra period by outscoring a pesky Dodge City team (14-17 overall), 18-9, over the final five minutes.
“It’s a great win for us, certainly. Back in December, I remember saying I was glad we didn’t have to play Dodge City again after playing them here (67-58 win on Dec. 7),” said Cloud County head coach, Brett Erkenbrack said. “We didn’t play well in the first half, or start the second half off very well, but to battle back and win I couldn’t be happier and prouder of our group. That’s the best win we’ve had all year, in my mind, because we really had to battle.”
The T-Birds, who have now won 21 straight games against Dodge City dating back to the 2008-09 season, punched their ticket to the second round of the Region VI Playoffs where they will match up against No. 1 seed Seward County Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday inside Hartman Arena in Wichita.
Cloud County trailed 18-9 after the first quarter and 30-20 at the break, shooting just 28 percent (8-of-29) from the floor while allowing Dodge City to score eight second-chance points on 11 offensive rebounds.
“The first 20 or 30 minutes of the game we seemed like we were dazed and confused and weren’t sure what it is we were trying to do,” Erkenbrack said. “Then as the game progressed and we got ahold of it, and I think that stretch in overtime is the first time we got ahold of it all night to close it out, it was wonderful. Just a great win for us… March Madness is no fun if you don’t get to play in March.”
Redshirt freshman Kamryn Collins (Navajo) scored 12 of those 20 first-half points to keep the T-Birds’ afloat en route to her best game in a Cloud County uniform, finishing with her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
“Kamryn kept us in it in the first half. She was really about all that we had,” Erkenbrack said. “Her 10 rebounds were outstanding. I asked her before the game if she could be relied on and she said ‘Yeah’ without hesitation. We relied on her (Wednesday). She made a bunch of big plays not just offensively, but the steal she got there late in overtime was huge. That might have been Kamryn’s best ballgame of the year and I’m really happy for her.”
After inching back within six to start the fourth quarter, sophomore forward Scout Frame took over as she scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the quarter, including a three-point play with 1:55 remaining that pulled Cloud County even with the Conquistadors at 50-50.
“Scout really got us going there in the third and fourth quarter,” Erkenbrack said. “We ran some stuff for her and she hit some tough baskets.”
Dodge City briefly took a 52-50 lead, but freshman guard Emmiley Hendrixson answered with a driving layup with 45 ticks remaining for two of her 13 points to force the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Frame and Collins each scored five points, with the T-Birds’ first lead of the ballgame coming at the 4:45 mark on a drive by Collins.
Hendrixson put Cloud County on top for good at 56-54 with a layup at the 2:24 mark. Freshman Chase Siedlik, who score eight of her 11 points in overtime, and Collins then delivered the daggers on the next two ensuing possessions.
Siedlik drilled a corner 3-pointer with 1:35 remaining that made it a two-possession game at 59-54. Just 16 seconds later, Collins poked the ball free at halfcourt, drew a foul and made a pair of free throws to tie a bow on the 70-61 final.
Cloud County will now turn its attention toward its matchup against KJCCC West champion Seward County, set to tip at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Hartman Arena in Wichita.
The T-Birds fell 80-57 in their only meeting against the Lady Saints during the regular season back on Dec. 1.
