The Dodge City Lady Demons faced a demanding three-day stretch at the Newton Invitational, matching up with three strong Class 6A programs and showing resilience, growth, and toughness throughout the tournament. Dodge City finished the event with a 2–1 record, highlighted by gritty wins over Newton and Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Game 1: Olathe Northwest 58, Dodge City 39
January 29 – Newton
Dodge City opened the tournament against Olathe Northwest, a deep and physical Lady Ravens squad. The Lady Demons stayed competitive early, trailing just 25–22 at halftime, but Olathe Northwest pulled away in the second half behind an 18–2 run that shifted momentum.
Addisyn Taylor led Dodge City with 14 points, knocking down three three-pointers, while Piper Mellinger added 8 points and 6 rebounds. Emma Bell contributed across the stat sheet with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Dodge City won the rebounding battle (33–26) but struggled with turnovers and free-throw shooting, which allowed Olathe Northwest to extend the lead late.
Game 2: Dodge City 42, Newton 32
January 30 – Newton
The Lady Demons responded the next day with a strong defensive performance against tournament host Newton. Despite cold shooting for much of the game, Dodge City stayed locked in defensively and dominated the fourth quarter with a decisive 21–3 run.
Piper Mellinger led all scorers with 16 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, while Kale Culwell pulled down 7 rebounds and provided strong interior defense. Emma Bell added 5 points and 4 rebounds, and Addisyn Taylor chipped in 6 points while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Dodge City forced turnovers at a high rate, scoring 25 points off turnovers, and showed toughness on the offensive glass with 20 offensive rebounds.
Game 3: Dodge City 45, Shawnee Mission Northwest 36
January 31 – Newton
In the tournament finale, Dodge City put together its most complete performance, defeating Shawnee Mission Northwest in a back-and-forth contest. After trailing at halftime, the Lady Demons surged in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 28–18 to secure the win.
Emily Gutierrez delivered a standout performance, scoring a game-high 21 points while attacking the rim and finishing 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. Piper Mellinger posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Emma Bell was dominant on the boards with 13 rebounds while adding 5 points and 5 assists.
Dodge City controlled the glass (36–26), limited Shawnee Mission Northwest to 28 percent shooting, and closed the game with a 13–0 run that sealed the victory.
Tournament Takeaways
Dodge City leaned on defense, rebounding, and balanced scoring throughout the weekend, with multiple players stepping up in key moments. With a 2–1 finish against strong competition, the Lady Demons leave Newton battle-tested and continuing to build momentum as the season progresses.
