Lady Buffs Overpowered by Great Bend in WAC Opener
Garden City Buffaloes guard Miraya Martinez handles in GCHS' matchup with Great Bend High School on January 5th, 2024. Photo Credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
GARDEN CITY, KS. – A three week break brought a lot of rust for head coach Jacob Miller’s bunch. Turnovers and quiet spells offensively proved too much for the Buffaloes to overcome in their WAC opener.
The Garden City Buffaloes lost their first conference game of the season on Friday night, falling to the Great Bend Panthers, 44-34. The loss was the third straight for GCHS after a perfect start through five games.
Great Bend’s (7-1, 1-0 WAC) two leading scorers had their fingerprints all over the first eight minutes. Seniors Sadie Spray and Emilee Hall combined for 11 of GBHS’ 15 first quarter points, putting the Panthers up by four. The visitors started the game on a 10-2 run.
Garden City played great defense in the second quarter, with guard Hailey Brown recording three steals, but the offense couldn’t get going until late on. Brown and sophomore K.J. Pinchon each splashed home three-pointers to tie the ball game at 19, but GBHS would close the half scoring the final five points.
Friday marked the first time all season Garden City (5-3, 0-1 WAC) trailed at the half.
The game held close throughout the third quarter, but the fourth saw Spray take off. Spray, who averages 17.4 points a night, scored seven straight points on three consecutive possessions, giving Great Bend their largest lead of the night, 42-28.
Pinchon swished two three-pointers to close up the fourth, bringing her total to four on the night. The sophomore led Garden City in scoring for the sixth game, scoring 17 points.
The Buffaloes travel for their first conference away game of the season against Liberal on Tuesday. Coverage on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins at 5:40 P.M., tip-off at 6:00 between the Lady Red and the Buffaloes.
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