Guymon spoil Garden City’s season openers

Guymon, Okla (westernkansasnews.com)–Garden City traveled Tuesday night to Guymon, Oklahoma to begin their 2019-20 season against the Tigers of Guymon. The Buffaloes began a busy stretch of four games in five days. Unfortunately, both games would result in a pair of losses. On the girls side, Guymon rallied to win 60-50, while the Tiger boys used a big run in the first quarter, and held off the Buffaloes 41-35.

Guymon Girls 60, Garden City 50
Entering Tuesday’s game, the Lady Buffaloes came in with plenty of varsity experience, coming off a 12-10 season last year. Garden City led most of the way, using an 8-0 run to lead 10-4 with 3:19 left in the opening period, and grew the lead to 16-9 after the first quarter. After a Lady Tiger basket to open the second frame, the Lady Buffs used an 11-2 run over three minutes to build a 27-13 lead with 4:20 left in the half. Guymon would trail with a minute left before the break at 31-17, and closed out the half with five straight to pull to within nine at 31-22. To open the second half, the Lady Tigers used an 11-3 run to get to within 34-33 with 5:33 left in the third stanza. They would eventually tie Garden City at 36 with 3:34 remaining in the third. Garden City would never trail in the third quarter, and a Keyhanna Turner three pointer at the end of the third gave the Lady Buffs a 45-41 lead after three quarters. When it looked like that three pointer would propel Garden City in the final period, Guymon had different plans. The Lady Tigers scored the first 11 points of the quarter, and ended up outscoring the Lady Buffaloes 19-5 in the final frame. Garden City’s first points of the quarter didn’t come until the 2:220 mark of the game, and they were only able to get as close as seven in the final four minutes of the game. 

Guymon was led by Johanna Quintero with 15 points, while Aaliyah Gutierrez and Danica Portillo had 11 apiece. The Lady Tigers were 14-22 from the line, including 8-10 in the fourth quarter. They improved to 2-1 on the season. Garden City got 13 points from Julie Calzonetti and 11 from Amaya Gallegos. The Lady Buffs finished 9-16 unofficially from the line, as they are 0-1 on the season.

Coach Matt Pfeifer Postgame

Guymon Boys 41, Garden City 35
Garden City came in with vitually a new team, with only one returning starter and a handful of reserves from a 17-5 season last year. The Buffs would come out and score the first four points in the first two minutes and it looked like they would have the edge. Guymon had other ideas. The Tigers would score 14 straight in a three and a half minute span and never trail the rest of the way, as they led 14-6 after the first quarter. Garden City would trail 20-6 with 4:23 left in the half, and ended a 10-plus minute field goal drought with 3:46 left in the second quarter to trail 20-10. Guymon eventually led 23-12 at the break. After falling behind 31-17 with 4:34 to go in the third frame, the Buffs got to within nine again and trailed 33-22 heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers were extremely patient with the ball after they built up their lead, but the Buffaloes would make their way back into the game. A 10-2 run over a five-minute stretch pulled them to within 37-32 with 1:30 left. Garden City had chances to cut into the deficit some more, but were unable to knock some shots down. Guymon hit four of their final five free throws to seal the deal, as they defeated the Buffaloes 41-35. 

Brett Fields and David Enriquez led Guymon with 10 points apiece. They were 5-7 at the foul line for the game and only had six fouls. Garden City had 10 points from Luke Tolbert off the bench, who drained a pair of three’s in the fourth quarter. Garden City didn’t attempt a free throw in the second half, and were 2-4 at the line. Guymon improves to 1-2, while the Buffs are 0-1.

Coach Jacy Holloway Postgame

Garden City will play in The Garden Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Their first opponent will be Palmer Ridge, followed by Coronado on Friday and Scott City on Saturday. Game times are at 6 pm for the girls and 7:30 for the boys on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, the girls play at 4:15 and the boys at 7:45.