Taking it personal; Buffs blowout Ulysses
Valley Center, KS (westernkansasnews.com)-Close loses can wear on a team; especially when you lose you a heartbreaker in overtime less than 24 hours earlier. So it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if Garden City got off to a slow start Saturday afternoon. Well, traditional logic hasn’t caught up with Caleb Tramp.
The senior, scored a game-high 21 points, including a nine-point third quarter in which he drilled 4-of-8 shots as the Buffaloes roasted Ulysses 56-37 in the seventh place game of the 2015 January Jam at Hornets Field House.
“He (Tramp) took some bad shots, but for the most part they were good,” Head Coach Jacy Holloway said afterwards. “He scored through our offense, which is what we want.”
Tramp was dazzling right from the jump, scoring 10 first-half points and helping Garden City (8-6, 4-0) push out to a 12-0 lead. But his best effort was on the glass, cleaning up 14 rebounds and recording his fifth career double-double.
“He set the tempo,” Holloway said. “He did a good job attacking the rim.”
Even after the Tigers scored seven unanswered points to trim a 15-2 deficit to six, the game was never in doubt. Garden City promptly responded by closing the half on a 12-7 run to take a 26-16 lead into the break.
“This was a tough game for us,” Holloway said. “No one wanted to play in the seventh-place game. There was nobody in the stands.”
Well they missed a pretty good show from a kid who, at times this season has been unstoppable; the third quarter proved that. He scored all nine of his team points, including a triple from the left corner that splashed through the net. After the shot went through, Tramp spun back to play defense and pumped his fist. He gave the same look during his 29-point outburst at the Hays Shootout against Olathe North.
Tramp was the only Buffalo in double figures followed by Jared Koster with eight points. Luis Rodriguez chipped in seven.
Tregg Rodriguez scored 18 points to pace the Tigers. He was 7-of-13 shooting while rest of his was a combined 7-of-29.
Garden City led from the opening tip, building their advantage to as many as 25 points 48-23 with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Next up: at Ulysses Tuesday, January 27-7:45 p.m. pregame; 8 p.m. tip on 99.9 FM; westernkansasnwes.com; mobile app: KWKR and tuneinradio app: KWKR
