Busters hit the road for Otero
Garden City (3-2) at Otero, CO (6-1); 8 pm tip
Radio: AM 1030 KBUF; online: westernkansasnews.com/kbuf; smartphone: kbufmobile.com and on Tuneinradio app: KBUF
Otero, CO (westernkansasnews.com)-Defense wins championships; first-year Buster men’s coach Brady Trenkle preaches it everyday in practice. But the new man in charge is also quick to point out that the offense has to come around.
Last week, the Garden City defense held one of the top, scoring teams in the country to only 60 points (30 below their season average), while keeping stud shooting guard Chris Golden in check. But it still wasn’t enough.
“We missed too many bunnies,” Trenkle said. “We have to convert on the easy buckets. We’re getting great looks, but we’re not finishing.”
Busters have dropped back-to-back games after racing out of the gates with three straight victories.
“This team wasn’t ready for a loss,” Trenkle said. They won their first three games and thought they were untouchable; they’re learning.”
Meantime the Rattlers have reeled off six straight wins since an opening-night loss to Missouri-West Plains.
Women
Garden City (3-4) at Otero, CO (3-3); 5:45 pm pregame; 6 pm tip
Radio: AM 1030 KBUF; online: westernkansasnews.com/kbuf; smartphone: kbufmobile.com and on Tuneinradio app: KBUF
Otero, CO (westernkansasnews.com)-Truth be told: Nick Salazar’s team was a lot better than they showed through their two games, and actions definitely speak louder than words.
Garden City has won three straight, thanks in large part to the return of Shauqunna Collins. With the sophomore out, the Busters were blitzed their last trip near the rocky mountains.
“She is the general that makes everything go,” Salazar said. “If we would have had her against Lamar, the outcome would have been much different.”
Collins floor leadership has led to the emergence of Zantaya Davis, who is coming off a 17 point, 11 rebound performance Saturday against Bethany’s JV squad.
It also doesn’t hurt to have recent University of Houston commit Sandra Davis in the post. The sophomore has scored 30 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in her last two contests.
And even better? The Busters are starting to hit shots.
Garden City is coming off their best shooting game of the season (51 percent) vs. Bethany.
Otero is coming off two straight wins; the latest: A 23-point rout of Adams State. But the win came at a cost. Freshman guard Bailey Haist, who’s the team’s leading scorer through six games, was hurt, and is a major question mark for Tuesday’s game.
“That will be a game time decision,” second-year coach Kyle Spencer said.
Still the Rattlers have plenty of offense on the floor, led by all-region IX player Danica Shipley. The sophomore from Rye High School in Pueblo, Co is averaging nearly 10 ppg and is shooting over 40 percent from the floor.
