Broncbusters MBB Held in Check by No. 25 Cloud County
Garden City Community College mens basketball team hosted Pratt Community College on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Conestoga Arena in Garden City, Kan. The Busters defeated the Beavers 82 - 66. Photo Credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
Concordia, KS. – Cloud County has started the season as one of the best defensive teams in the Jayhawk conference, holding teams to under an average of 53 points through their first eight.
In their ninth game, Garden City gave them all they could handle. As the game raged on, Cloud got more and more comfortable, slowly, but surely, inching away.
Wednesday night saw defeat for the Garden City Broncbusters against the No. 25 Cloud County Thunderbirds, falling 66-54 at Arley Bryant Gymnasium. The loss marked Garden City’s first since November 9th, snapping a five-game winning streak.
It was the first time all season that Garden City failed to lead at the half. The Broncbusters (6-3, 3-1 KJCCC) could never get a consistent offensive flow in the first half due to a mix of fouls and turnovers.
The game was tied at 23 at the break, due the heroic play of point guard Brody Robinson. The Chattanooga transfer whipped up 14 first-half points to lead all scorers, splashing home four triples.
Robinson finished with a game-high 22 points in the loss. The game marked the fourth straight KJCCC game that the sophomore has scored at least 20 points.
Turnovers were a huge woe throughout, and perhaps the reason that Cloud County (8-1, 3-1 KJCCC) prevailed. The Thunderbirds limited themselves to just three first half turnovers, while their patented defense forced nine on the other end.
Even more impressively, Cloud only committed one giveaway in the second half. It was a season-best four turnovers for the hosts, while forcing 17 Garden City giveaways.
The Thunderbirds’ most consistent offense came at the free throw line. CCCC got to the line consistently in the second 20, recording 14 more free throws than Garden City. Cloud shot 22-of-29 from the line, Garden just nine-of-15.
Four different Thunderbirds scored in double-figures in the victory – and after only leading once in the first half – pulled ahead with roughly nine minutes to go, holding on to a 12-point margin at the end.
The Broncbusters finish out a two-game road trip at William S. Scott Auditorium on Saturday against the Cowley Tigers. Coverage will begin immediately following women’s basketball’s 2:00 P.M. game on 1030 AM and 106.1 FM KBUF, due to crossover with Garden City High School’s basketball set with Palmer Ridge in Colorado.
