Upset Alert! Lady Busters Hang on Against No. 14 Dodge City

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Head coach Greg Franklin admired his team’s commitment to defense in 2024.

It showed up throughout their penultimate home game, suffocating one of the best offenses in the NJCAA.

Garden City recorded its first win over a ranked opponent under Franklin, defeating the No. 14 Dodge City Lady Conquistadors, 55-53, at Conestoga Arena. It was the fewest points that Dodge City scored all season.

“First half,e executed really well, on both sides of the ball,” Franklin praised. “It took us being together.”

C.C. Driessen got Garden City (16-12, 11-12 KJCCC) off to a great start, hitting her first three shots of the game and recording a pair of steals.

Driessen took her third personal foul midway through the first, but the defense got better for GCCC. The Broncbusters forced nine turnovers in five minutes against Dodge City, extending their lead to eight points after one.

“Our schemes are really good right now,” Franklin said. “I saw us getting backside help, getting some steals from Stevi [Yancy], and taking the first pass away… It frustrates a team when they can’t run what they want to run.”

Their defense led to offense, with Miya Nieto and Antonicia Moultrie opening up the second quarter with buckets. Garden City led 23-8, holding Dodge City without a make from the floor for over 10 minutes.

DCCC’s 17 first-half points were their fewest all season long.

Nieto led all scorers with 13 points at the break. It was the second time Nieto led Garden City in scoring within the last month, closing with 18 points.

“I really liked when we swung the ball,” Nieto said. “I was getting a lot of looks, especially in the [left] corner.”

Dodge City (25-5, 19-5 KJCCC) started the second half strongly, scoring nine straight points to bring it back within eight. Their three-point shooting percolated late in the frame, with Tayah Morgan’s contested three bringing it back within one possession.

Dodge tied the game with 11 seconds on a Parris Atkins layup, scoring six points in just 22 seconds. Boxer Conley flung out the other way, getting fouled on a layup to head to the line.

Conley put Garden City ahead with one of two.

“I was stressed, for sure,” Nieto said. “I don’t think I’ve been involved in [a crazier ending].”

Dodge got a chance on their final possession, but leading scorer Paris Santacaterina couldn’t stick an open left-wing three. The Conqs committed a flagrant foul at the end, leading to an extra free throw for Driessen, sealing the win.

The Lady Busters close their season on Wednesday, taking on the No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragons. Coverage on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins at 5:10 P.M., with tip-off at 5:30.

Audio recap