Broncbusters outlast Cowley

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Shorthanded, no problem.

Despite missing their leading scorer and best defensive player, the Broncbusters found a way. Dayshawna Carter poured in 20 points, Ashton McCorry added 12 points and four rebounds, and Garden City beat Cowley, 67-60 Saturday afternoon at Conestoga Arena. The win pushed the Broncbusters to 17-8 overall and 12-8 in conference. They have now won four out of their last five.

Garden City shot 45 percent, produced 21 assists on 25 made baskets, and outscored Cowley 40-24 in the paint.

The Broncbusters led by two after one, then blitzed the Tigers 19-11 in the second quarter. McCorry got inside for a layup, Payton Hicks knocked down a 17-footer, Justis Odom found a cutting Keyhana Turner for a deuce; then Turner rattled home a baseline jumper, capping off an 8-0 run that put the Broncbusters up, 27-16 with 3:57 remaining. They led by 10 at the intermission.

Garden City was up by as many as 13 four minutes into the third quarter before Cowley made their run. The Tigers scored 21 points in the frame, finishing 10-of-13 at the line to pull within six going to the fourth.

Cowley kept things close the rest of the way, and when Shamahra Henderson hit a free throw, the Tigers had cut Garden City's lead to 59-55 with 2:43 left.

But the Broncbusters had enough to finish off Todd Clark's team, getting a pair of free throws by Payton Hicks, and two clutch freebies off the right wrist of Carter, putting Antwain Scales' bunch nine games over the .500 mark.

Turner chipped in 10 points off the bench for Garden City, which improved to 9-2 at home. Britney Mapang added four points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Martyna Kowalska paced the Tigers with 17 points in 27 minutes before fouling out.

Next up: Garden City vs. Pratt-Monday, Feb. 14-5:30 p.m. CDT