Pinchon Powers Lady Buffs to Comeback Win over Hooker (Ok.)

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – The confidence of shooters in basketball is a sight to behold. The elite basketball players can see one shot fall and know it’s going to be their day.

It was K.J. Pinchon’s day at The Garden on Saturday.

The sophomore scored season-high 22 points, to lead the The Garden City Buffaloes to a 54-44 win over the Hooker (Ok.) Bulldogs on Saturday. Pinchon scored in double-figures for the 10th time this season.

“Once I get my first basket, my confidence is there,” Pinchon said. “So as long as I’m not in my head, I’m fine.”

Pinchon scored 12 of her 22 in the first half, piling in six in each frame.

The Buffaloes’ start was rocky, with Pinchon carrying the workload. She scored six of her team’s first nine, going to work early on.

Garden City’s response was remarkable. The Buffaloes’ defense held the Bulldogs to seven points in the second quarter, bringing an eight-point deficit within two possessions.

The Buffaloes’ third quarter against Hooker in December was one of their worst, held scoreless. Their third quarter against Hooker in February was one of their best, flipping the game on its head.

The Buffaloes drained four three-pointers in the frame to take a 35-31 lead. Freshman Myah Korf drilled two triples, with Pinchon drilling another.

“We worked together,” Pinchon said. “We know that we have to do [well] in the third quarter, or we won’t win. Just the third quarter, keeping that mentality in winning.”

The fourth was one of Garden City’s best offensive quarters, scoring at all levels. Miraya Martinez scored five, while Kamdyn Carr and Pinchon cashed in six points at the line.

Martinez scored eight second half-points in the win.

“We took care of the basketball. We played under control, slowed down, let the game come to us,” Jacob Miller, Buffaloes’ head coach, said. “I think that was the difference between win and loss.”

The game marked the second time that the Buffaloes came from behind at halftime to win.

The win moved to Garden City to seventh in 6A West, pulling ahead of Wichita Southeast on tiebreak.

The Buffaloes face a key challenge on Senior Night against the Dodge City Red Demons. Tuesday’s coverage begin at 5:40 P.M. on 99.9 ‘The Rock’, tipoff at 6:00.

Audio recap