Buffaloes Basketball Races Past Altus for First Win
Garden City High School Boys basketball team hosted Coronado High School during the Roundball Classic on Friday December 9, 2022 at The Garden in Garden City, Kan. The Buffalos the Cougars 83 - 60. Photo credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
GARDEN CITY, KS. – First year head coach Luke Swedberg was beginning to see the pieces come together by the third day in Colorado Springs. While Garden City lost their first two games, and went on to lose their third, the new coach scoped out visions of what this Buffaloes team could be, at their best.
In their home opener, Swedberg’s Buffaloes came together brilliantly.
The Garden City Buffaloes won their first game of the 2023 season on Thursday night, defeating the Altus (Ok.) Bulldogs, 57-47, at The Garden. The win marked Swedberg’s first at Garden City, with his team playing quality team basketball throughout.
The Buffaloes spreaded the ball brilliantly in the first quarter. Six different Buffs scored in the first quarter, closing the first eight minutes on a 17-3 run out of a timeout.
Thomas Longa was a big factor off the bench for Garden City. The junior center scored five points off the bench in the first quarter, giving the Buffs a 10-point lead after one.
The Buffaloes drained three three-pointers in the second, stretching their lead to 15 at the half. Seniors Emilio Zundt and Brody Burns hit the threes, both closing the first half with eight points.
Zundt was key all night long for the Buffaloes, posting a team-best 14 points. The senior has now led the Buffaloes in scoring in each of their last two games.
Garden City led, 33-15, at the half. The second half saw both teams trade buckets back and forth, remaining a double-digit Buffaloes lead.
The third quarter was highlighted by Garden City getting to the line, hitting six free throws in the third quarter. Longa was important again, scoring another five points in the quarter.
Longa finished with a career-high 10 points in the victory.
The fourth quarter saw Altus keep the game interesting, even pulling within single-digits for a short bit. The duo of Kaleb Kirby and Gavyn Shive combined for 12 fourth-quarter points, as Altus out-scored the Buffaloes by six in the third.
It wouldn’t be enough, the Buffaloes would hit some well-timed shots to stay comfortably ahead for their first win.
Garden City looks to build on the win tomorrow as they face the La Junta Tigers from The Garden. Coverage begins immediately following girl’s basketball’s finish, estimated tip-off time is set for 7:30 P.M. on 99.9 ‘The Rock’.
