In style; Buffs sweep Liberal

Boys Highlights: GCHS vs. Liberal

Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-For the second straight game, Buffs coach Jacy Holloway sent a message by benching his original starters. And for the second straight night, they responded; at least Caleb Tram did. 

The junior scored a game-high 14 points including a breakaway dunk in the final minute that secure Garden City’s sixth win of the year; a 42-34 barn burner Tuesday night at the New Garden. 

“I thought he (Caleb) was in the right position more tonight,” Holloway said after the game. “He was just in a better position to help all night.”

Tramp’s late-game antics were desperately needed. Garden City (6-3) found themselves trailing 32-29 to a 2-5 Liberal team with 3:45 remaining in the game. That’s when the junior pulled out all the stops.

Working on the left baseline-Tramp wheeled around the Redskins’ Britton Abbott, used a drop step and scored with an nifty layup-pulling the Buffs within one.

After Hunter Delgado sank two free throws to give Garden City a one-point lead, the Buffs would take the lead for good when Tramp overplayed the passing lane-stole the ball from Jared Hasik and threw it down with a thunderous left-hand jam. 

“I saw that and probably would have played it a little differently,” Holloway said about the play. “But he knew exactly where to go and what to do.”

Garden City would outscore the Redskins 13-2 over the final 3:45 to win it by eight. Tristan Nanniga added eight points, while Delgado poured in seven. Hayden Coker led Liberal (2-6) with 10 points and six rebounds.

Final Stats: GCHS boys vs. Liberal

Girls Highlights: GCHS vs. Liberal

Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-In the days leading up to Tuesday night’s showdown with Liberal, Lady Buffs Head Coach David Upton said that his team needed to find it’s identity-especially on the defensive end. Message well received. 

Jaymie Berbeck scored a season-high 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Garden City rolled to a 58-40 win Tuesday night at the New Garden. 

The Buffs, who struggled offensively against Great Bend on Friday, stormed out to a 23-7 first quarter lead. They shot 9-of-14 from the field in the opening frame, and punctuated the quarter when Taryn Tempel converted a three-point play at the buzzer. The senior finished with 13 points. 

But this night belonged to Bernbeck. And even when the Redskins (3-5) mounted a comeback in the final quarter, it was the junior knocking down clutch buckets, including a circus shot that she hit falling out of bounds on a feed from Tionnia McKee. 

Jacksenie Tornero finished with eight points including two 3-pointers. Jai Chapman paced the Liberal attack with 21 points on 8-of-20 from the field. She also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. 

Final Stats: GCHS vs. Liberal girls