GCHS Drops Basketball Openers at Hays Shootout

Hays, KS (westernkansasnews.com) It was a wild ride in the opening basketball games of the season for the Garden City High School Basketball teams at the Hays Shootout.  The girls grabbed 13-12 lead when Abby Dart scored nine straight, but turnovers did in the Lady Buffaloes in a 52-34 loss to Hays. 

The boys held a 28-27 lead at half against Hays, but were held without a field goal over the first five minutes of the third quarter in losing a 66-58 contest.

Girls Highlights

In the girls game, Garden did not have much trouble with the press, but it was in establishing their half-court offense after breaking the Indians pressure that gave them so much trouble.  Dart led the way for Garden City with eleven including two three pointers during the first half, Josie Calzonetti poured it on in the second half to score eleven.

Hays made their living running up and down the court.  Sophomore Savannah Schneider battled foul trouble in the first half, but would still stay on the court long enough to score 17. 

Her ability to slash to the rim gave the Lady Buffs a lot of problems.  Mattie Hutchinson another talented sophomore had 15 and senior Talyn Kleweno chipped in 10 including a pair of three pointers.

Garden City’s Matt Pfeifer made his coaching debut and even despite the loss was encouraged that his team made correctable mistakes.

Over to the boys game where Garden City showed their strength from the outside in the early going of the season.  Zac Karlin scored all his points on 3s finishing with 15 and freshman Carlos Acosta hit three triples to account for 14.

Boy’s Highlights

Hays lost 80 percent of their scoring from last year’s team that went 17-5, but the ones who came in did the trick.  Returner Ethan Nunnery scored 12 and Caliborn Kyles poured it on late with 15.  Both players nailed their two free throws in the final minute after transfer Derrick Sexton of Wichita hit a runner down the paint with less than 40 seconds to go in bringing the Buffaloes to within 62-58.

The difference in the game was in the third quarter.  After Garrett Doll split his two free throws after being fouled in the final one-tenth of a second before halftime to give GC a 28-27 lead, Hays took the momentum for good in the third quarter outscoring Garden City 19-8 and even though the Buffaloes pulled to within four in the final minute they fell short of completing the comeback.

Garden City Coach Jacy Holloway’s Post-game Comments

Garden City begins day two of the Hays shootout when they face Manhattan a team that beat Great Bend by 15 in their opener.  Boys begin at 3:30.  The girls start at 7 also against Manhattan.  Pre-game show begins 15 minutes beforehand on ESPN 99.9 and westernkansasnews.com.