Behind a dominant third quarter, Manhattan High boys’ basketball pulled away from Dodge City on Friday night, extending the Indians’ winning streak to four games.

Manhattan (4-1) has surged out of the gate after opening the season with a loss to Life Prep Academy — a non-KSHSAA opponent that entered the year with several games already played. The Indians won just six games a season ago and struggled to string together victories, but early signs suggest a shift in trajectory this winter.

“We’ve got some wind in our sails,” head coach Benji George said. “The players reflected, just like I did, on last year and fixing some things from a style standpoint — trying to play to our strengths. Learning from that experience, it’s just proof that failure and success have to hold hands.”

Manhattan’s senior guard trio delivered a banner night. Vince Doering scored a career-high 21 points, while Sawyer Newton added a career-best 19, and Will Carpenter chipped in 17.

The trio combined for 36 points in the second half and shot 20-of-34 from the field for the game, nearly 60 percent. Manhattan’s defense also limited Dodge City — which entered averaging 81.5 points per game — to a season-low in scoring and shooting, holding the Red Demons to 17-of-44 (38 percent) from the floor.

“I’ll put our perimeter play up against anybody,” George said. “I love where we’re at. And I know Tim (Washington) doesn’t score tonight, but he’s doing so many things that don’t show up on the box score. Those four seniors have really gelled early.”

Manhattan’s defensive pressure again proved decisive.

“Our pressure — there’s a relentlessness to it that just wears teams down,” George said. “You saw it not just in the turnovers, but in their shots. We keep track of deflections, and we were at 39 tonight. That’s flying around. Everybody’s buying into a defensive DNA.”

How it happened

Dodge City opened at a fast pace, hitting three early 3-pointers, but Manhattan countered by converting consistently at the rim. The teams combined for 29 field-goal attempts in the quarter, with Manhattan holding a slim 17–16 edge.

In the second quarter, Manhattan pushed its lead to seven following a series of steals and scores, capped by back-to-back buckets from Henry Witt. The Indians entered halftime ahead 32–26, shooting 46.4 percent in the quarter despite a 1-of-4 mark from beyond the arc.

“The difference in the first half was that we just weren’t finishing our run-outs,” George said. “We were a little unsure of ourselves and needed to spray the ball to the perimeter more. We did that in the second half.”

The Indians erupted out of the break, quickly doubling their first-half total of 3-pointers. An 18–3 run in the opening three minutes forced a Dodge City timeout, as Manhattan poured in 29 points in the quarter behind Doering and Sawyer Newton.

In the final frame, whistles on both ends slowed the pace, but Manhattan’s cushion was more than enough to keep the game comfortably in hand.

Manhattan hits the road to Shawnee Heights Monday, renewing an old Centennial League matchup.

“We haven’t played Shawnee Heights in a while,” George said. “It’s an old Centennial League matchup. We had some great games back in the day, so we’re excited to bring that back.”

MANHATTAN 76,

DODGE CITY 54

Manhattan (4-1) — 17; 15; 29; 15 — 76

Dodge City (1-2) — 16; 10; 11; 17 — 54

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

MANHATTAN — Carpenter 17 (6-11), Asher Newton 5 (2-4), Doering 21 (7-11), Sawyer Newton 19 (7-12), Braxmeyer 4 (2-3), Pfeifley 2 (1-1), Witt 6 (2-4), Hattrup 2 (1-2); Total: 76 (28-51)

DODGE CITY — Lembright 7 (2-4), Ochs 6 (2-2), Reyes 15 (5-8), Scheck 5 (0-7), Norris 2 (1-3), Smith 11 (4-12), Woods 4 (2-3), Schulte 4 (1-3); Total 54 (17-44)