Broncbuster Basketball Takes Two in Colby; Improve Tournament Seeding
Colby, KS–The Garden City Community College Basketball teams are riding a wave of momentum in wrapping up the regular season. The Broncbusters scored a pair of win Saturday night in Colby winning the women’s game 75-57 and the men’s coming back from 66-61 down to defeat the Trojans 76-72.
The men wrapped up no worse than an eighth seed for Thursday’s Region VI tournament meaning they will host an opening round game at the DPAC.
Women’s Highlights First Half/Second Half
In the women’s game Garden jetted out to a 40-19 lead only to have a rain of four threes come down from Journey Jones right before half to make it a 44-31 lead. DeRae Lewis made the difference scoring a career high 21 using her footwork to best the Trojans Aubre Johnson.
Despite the win, sophomore guard Kavita Akula ran into a backpick from Johnson at midcourt and fell down where she remained for several minutes. Akula then was able to get up, but because she suffered what was diagnosed as a concussion her status is questionable for the next two games.
Lewis hit 10-16 shots and led four players in double figures. Monica Barefield added 13, Tionnia McKee had 12 and Jessica Carillo poured in 11. Jones was one of two players for Colby in double figures with a career high 25.
GCCC Coach Nick Salazar’s Post-game Comments
The Lady Busters (10-19, 8-17) have won back to back games for the first time since November 26th and 30th when they notched a pair of home wins over Independence and Dodge City. GCCC is eyeing a ninth seed in the upcoming region six tournament which means they will be on the road, but would likely have a favorable match up against a team with only a slight better conference mark.
The loss was Colby’s 21st in a row dropping their women’s team to (3-26, 1-24).
Men’s Highlights First/Second Half
Over to the men’s game Garden City (16-13, 12-13) went ahead on a Naradin James three from the right wing with 1:20 left giving GCCC a 70-69 lead. Moments later, the Broncbusters had Josh Fleming a mid lane jumped to push Garden ahead 72-69. Fleming was dynamite at the end with the sophomore nailing four of five free throws down the stretch including the last two attempts with 3.1 seconds to seal up the win and end Garden City’s six game losing streak.
Colby (14-15, 10-15) trailing 74-72 with 11 seconds left attempted to tie it up only to have James forced Shaq Athie running shot to misfire as it went behind the backboard ending the Trojans chance to win the game.
Fleming ended the game with a career high 28 points by hitting 9-12 free throws and 7-21 from the field for Garden. Naradin James ended the night with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Victor Dukes also had 10 boards.
Caleal Walker scored 16 points in the loss for Colby. Athie and Gabriel Gyamfi poured in 15 each.
GCCC Coach Brady Trinkle Post-Game Comments
Garden City will wrap up the regular season on the road Monday night at Seward County. The women tip at 6, men at 8pm.
