Driessen “Steals” The Show in Broncbusters WBB Conference Opener
Garden City Community College womens basketball team hosted Colby Community College on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Conestoga Arena in Garden City, Kan. The Lady Busters defeated the Trojans 76 - 58. Photo Credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
Garden City, KS. – In another close game down the stretch, Garden City turned to their point guard. A game that looked to be a breeze for Greg Franklin’s unit turned tour in the final 20 minutes.
Franklin, a coach with over 410 wins in his career, had turned to one of his freshmen down the stretch in wins over Otero and NOC-Tonkawa. Yet again, she delivered for the Broncbusters, en route to another big win.
Guard Sierra “C.C.” Driessen caught fire on Saturday, recording a career-high 29 points, in Garden City’s 76-58 win over Colby at Conestoga Arena. Driessen led Garden City in scoring for the third time individually this season, adding a crucial seven steals in the win.
“I just had that momentum when I was on the floor today,” Driessen said, after the win. “I feel like we needed this win to let people know what type of time we’re on.”
The game was dominant from the opening tip. The Broncbusters (6-0, 1-0 KJCCC) scored the first 10 points of the game off Colby turnovers, with Driessen pouring in a quick seven.
Colby didn’t get on the board until the 3:16 mark, trailing 16-1. Garden City would lead 23-5 after the first 10 minutes, holding the opposition to just one-of-nine shooting in the first.
“The biggest thing is we impose our will on other people, because we’re so quick,” Franklin said. “Sometimes, we can be one of the best teams in the country.”
The Broncbusters would score 20 points off of 17 Trojans’ turnovers in the first half, leading by as much as 33 multiple times. The Broncbusters got good scoring from their bench, as Freshmen Maya Nieto and Opal Hardy combined for 14 first-half points.
Garden City built their halftime lead to 29, but the second half saw Colby (3-2, 0-1 KJCCC) rally. The Trojans dug into the deficit in the third quarter due to Broncbuster turnovers and lack of focus.
“We need to keep our momentum going,” Driessen said. “Sometimes we get down, and let them come back in the third quarter.”
Colby would bring the game within 11, but Driessen came through big in the fourth quarter again.
The freshman recorded multiple and-ones in the fourth quarter to inflate the deficit back up to as much as 18. Driessen contributed to 16 of Garden City’s 18 fourth quarter points, with big helpers to Opal Hardy and Stevi Yancy.
“She was in foul trouble the whole time, but she still played the best defense we had as well,” Franklin added. “We still have to be better than that collectively, as a team.”
The Trojans out-scored the Broncbusters by 11 in the second half, led by Aryanna Perez’ 10 points off the bench.
The Lady Broncbusters will travel out to Independence for their first conference road game on Tuesday to face the Lady Pirates. Coverage begins at 1:40 P.M. on the American Implement pregame show with a 2:00 tip-off, all found on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’.
