Garden City falls in Indy despite big day from Davis and Carter

Independence, KS-Valentina Ojeda scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds, JaMya Robinson had a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards, and Independence beat Garden City, 65-57 Saturday afternoon at ICCC Fieldhouse. The loss dropped the Broncbusters to 7-14 overall and 3-12 in conference. 

Free throws cost Garden City in this one, especially in the third quarter where they went 1-of-6. They finished 13-of-20 for the game and shot just 31 percent from the field. 

The Pirates, which snapped a three-game losing streak, shot 41 percent from the floor on 21-of-51. They were 6-of-20 from beyond the arc and won the game despite giving up 16 offensive rebounds.  

After trailing by as many as seven in the first, Garden City turned things around in the second. Taya Davis's three-point play and Dayshawna Carter's 24-footer had the Broncbusters within three. Carter then sank four straight free throws, Davis made back-to-back layups, and Stevi Yancy drilled a long 3-pointer to put the Broncbusters up 30-23 on the heels of a 19-6 run. But Antwain Scales' team managed just a single basket (Keyhana Turner's layup) over the final three minutes of the period. They led by one at the half, 32-31.  

The Broncbusters missed their chance in the third.  

Ariyah Brooks' two-footer gave Garden City a 40-39 edge with 4:53 remaining. However, neither team scored the next three minutes thanks to a myriad of missed free throws. Brooks finally broke the seal with a freebie to make it 41-39. Moments later Davis beat two defenders to the rim, and Brooks hit a twisting layup, giving the Broncbusters a 45-41 advantage with 45 seconds left in the frame. But Blesseth Dillingham canned a triple from the left wing, and the Pirates were within one going to the fourth. 

Dillingham's made layup followed by D'Yanna Maxey's jumper and Sabrina Larsson's 3-pointer gave the Pirates a 51-46 lead two minutes into the final quarter. Garden City did manage to take a one-point lead after Carter swished a free throw. But Maxey banked home a runner in the lane, Valentina Ojeda converted a layup in traffic, and Robinson rattled home a 16-footer left of the lane to put Independence up 59-54 with 23 seconds left.  

Davis finished with 19 points, seven assists, and five rebounds for Garden City. Carter added 18 points and eight boards. 

Dillingham netted 13 points, six dimes, and six rebounds for Independence, which won the game despite getting only eight points from the bench.