Buffaloes Drop Decision in Goodland

GOODLAND, Kan. – Garden City started 2024 on fire. The Buffaloes poured in 121 points in the first two games of the new calendar year, with great ball movement and important shot-making.

The ball movement was there. The shots, unfortunately, were not.

The Garden City Buffaloes lost its second straight game, defeated by the Goodland Cowboys, 58-47, at Max L. Jones Fieldhouse on Tuesday Night. Both teams were held way below their previous totals in 2024 in a surprising defense-oriented game.

“Usually, this is the time you want to get in rhythm,” head coach Luke Swedberg said. “Bottom-line, you have to come out here and do it. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, whether it’s the first game or the 10th game, you need to come out here and play how we want to play.”

Garden City’s (4-6, 1-1 WAC) offense scored just five points in the first eight minutes, but held Goodland to just one made field goal in the first quarter. Emilio Zundt and Thomas Longa were the only two Buffaloes to score in the first half, which ended tied at 19.

Zundt played a phenomenal first half, recording a steal and a game-tying layup at the end of the second quarter. The senior scored 15 of GCHS’ 19 in the first frame.

“It was a really high-IQ play by Emilio to end the first half,” Swedberg said. “I thought it was good for the most part.”

Zundt scored 21 points on Tuesday, tied with his season-high in points.

Goodland (10-2, 2-1 GWAC) brought the fireworks to open up the second half. Junior Linkon Cure recorded two slam dunks to open the half to put the Cowboys ahead for good.

Cure finished with a game-high 14 points for the Cowboys.

“They get two dunks to start the half, maybe a bit of an energy-booster,” Swedberg said. “Little things… some extra-effort things I thought they did extremely well. You have to tip your cap to Goodland.”

Garden City found life late, but it wasn’t enough to come from behind. The Cowboys’ 20-12 third quarter proved too much.

The Buffaloes travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to face the Mount St. Mary’s Rockets on Saturday. Coverage can be found on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ immediately following the conclusion of girl’s basketball.

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