Broncbusters Knocked Off in Road Loss to Northwest Tech
Garden City Community College mens basketball team played on the road vs Butler Community College on Saturday February 10, 2024 at the Power Plant in El Dorado, Kan. The Busters Busters lost to the Grizzlies 83 - 93. Photo credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
GOODLAND, Kan. – The Broncbusters’ identity this season has been a fast-paced, high-scoring offense, that can shoot the lights out anywhere they play. The Broncbusters had posted over 100 in multiple road games in 2024 and come close in other games.
Wednesday night, the offense didn’t make the trip from Garden City to Goodland.
The Garden City Broncbusters fell short against the Northwest Tech Mavericks, 88-82, at the Max L. Jones Field House. The Broncbusters missed 22 three-pointers in the losing effort, their third straight defeat.
Wednesday marked the first time all season Garden City had lost to an opponent below them in the Jayhawk Conference Standings.
Garden City struggled from the floor in second halves against Cowley and Butler in its last two losses. Wednesday night was a very rare off first half, shooting-wise, for the Broncbusters
The first half saw GCCC (15-10, 11-8 KJCCC) go one-of-nine from three, struggling to get their offense going. The Broncbusters did manage to go 12-of-17 from the free throw line, but their perimeter shots not falling was crucial.
Northwest Tech (10-14, 6-12 KJCCC) crashed the offensive glass early on, extending possessions, tiring out the Garden City defense. The Mavericks recorded 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, including four from guard Taiden Conner.
Conner had a game-high 11 points in the first half, chipping in seven rebounds. The Mavericks pushed the lead to as much as 16 in the first 20, leading 40-29 at the break.
Brody Robinson started to get Garden City back into it past the halfway point in the second half. Two and-ones brought life back to the Broncbuster bench, as the guard brought the game within eight.
Robinson finished the game with 29 second-half points, scoring 35 in the defeat. Robinson was 21-of-25 from the line on Wednesday.
NW Tech’s guards proved too much for Garden City defensively. Big finishes at the cup from Emarquis Jones and Charles Fofanah helped the Mavericks ring the lead at two possessions for the final two minutes.
Garden City reached within three points but didn’t have enough to pull any closer.
Garden City closes its three-game road trip at The Greenhouse on Saturday against Seward County, looking for a season sweep of the Saints. Coverage on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins following Women’s Basketball’s 2:00 tip-off.
