Buffaloes Shock Great Bend in Conference Opener

GARDEN CITY, KS. – The Buffaloes came back from their Winter Holiday recharged and re-focused. There was a palpable sense of competition throughout practice for a group determined to overcome losing four of seven.

The team passed their first test of 2024 with flying colors, earning a gritty win in their conference opener.

The Garden City Buffaloes defeated the Great Bend Panthers, 57-56, at The Garden Friday in their first Western Athletic Conference contest of the season. The win snapped a six-game winning streak for Great Bend, dating all the way back to December 7th.

Garden City emerged in the middle of the first quarter, using a pair of three pointers from Brody Burns and Kolten Davis to take a 15-14 lead.

The second quarter saw the Buffaloes (4-4, 1-0 WAC) have their way for the entire eight minutes, producing a joint-season-best 22 points in the eight minute span. The second quarter tied GCHS’ third quarter against La Junta for their most points in a single frame all season.

The guard play throughout the night was fantastic for the Buffaloes. Emilio Zundt and Raul Munoz both assisted plenty in the first half, helping center Thomas Longa to six points in the first half.

Garden City’s 37 points at the half was their second most in a half all season, but Great Bend (6-2, 0-1 WAC) had an answer in the fourth. Sophomore forward Ian Premer percolated in the third quarter, scoring nine points to bring GBHS back within one.

The fourth quarter saw the game go back and forth. Important layups by Munoz put the Buffaloes ahead, 66-60. The Panthers would score six in a row down the stretch, with senior Maddox Spray tying the game with a turnaround jumper inside the final 30 seconds.

Garden City lost a lot of its starters from last season to rely on in such an important late-game situation. Their lone returning starter provided the winning play, as Zundt was fouled with 6.7 seconds to go, making one of two free throws to put the Buffaloes ahead, 57-56.

Zundt finished with a team-high 16 points, leading GCHS in scoring for the fourth time this season.

The final possession was one of Garden City’s most focused defensive stops of the year. Zundt poked a pass from Great Bend guard Carter Coombs away, holding the Panthers without a shot. The Buffaloes’ bench erupted, bouncing back from their largest loss of the season against Hooker with their most impressive win of the campaign.

Garden City looks to make it 2-0 in conference play on Tuesday in Liberal, as the Buffaloes travel to face the Redskins. Coverage on KWKR 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins following the conclusion of girls basketball, which opens at 6:00 P.M.

Head Coach Luke Swedberg