Broncbusters let second-half lead slip away; fall to Dodge City in region semis

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Salina, KS-A lot can change in 3:08. Just ask Bill Morosco.

Themus Fulks scored 21 points, Oumar Koureissi added 16, and No. 4 Dodge City quickly erased a nine-point second half deficit to beat Garden City, 89-77 Friday afternoon in the Region VI semifinals at the Tony's Pizza Event Center. The Conquistadors advanced to the championship game for the first time since 2015 where they will play Hutchinson on Saturday night while the Broncbusters season ended at 22-10.

"It's disappointing because I know this is a special group of guys," Morosco said afterwards. "I am very proud of what they accomplished this year."

For most of the game, Garden City couldn't get out of its own way. They missed 13 free throws and were 2-of-20 from downtown. They also shot just 34 percent from the field, their second lowest mark of the season.

"It's hard to overcome those things against a really good team," Morosco added. "In a sense, you have to play close to a perfect game."

Despite their shooting struggles, the Broncbuster defense controlled much of the second half, forcing 14 of Dodge City's 24 turnovers. That relentless pressure paid dividends on the other end, and when Tone Hunter banked home a turnaround jumper just right of the key, Garden City had a 65-56 advantage with 8:21 remaining.

"I think we tried to do a little too much during that stretch," Morosco admitted. "But it's the heat of the moment."

Kalen Williams immediately answered with a three-point play for the Conquistadors, Jonathan Breeland buried a trey from the left corner, and Fulks swished a seven-footer along the baseline to give Dodge City the lead. It was all part of a 12-0 surge that took all of 188 seconds.

"That's how quickly things can turn," Morosco said.

Garden City never regained the advantage, thanks in large part to Dodge City's efficiency. The Conquistadors made 20-of-29 shots over the final 20 minutes of the game and built their lead to as many as 14 in the final minute.

"Twice this season, we have been in the same situation against this team and couldn't finish," Morosco said. "That is so frustrating."

It is when you consider that the Broncbusters never backed down from one of the most athletic teams in the country. Trailing by as many as eight in the first half, Jyre McCloud connected on a short jumper, Hunter swished two free throws; then dropped in a 16-foot rainbow and a contested shot just outside of the paint, polishing off a 14-6 run that tied things up at 39 going into the locker room.

Diarra, who once again had a slew of Division-I coaches in the stands including West Virginia, finished the game with 19 points and 14 rebounds in Garden City, which lost in the semifinals for the second time in the past five seasons. Hunter tallied 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals, and Heru Bligen had 11 points and nine boards.

High-flyer Nick Pringle, whose two tantalizing dunks electrified the Dodge City faithful, finished with 14 points and eight boards before fouling out late in the second half. BJ Freeman had 14, and Kerwin Prince chipped in 10 in 21 minutes off the bench.