High-flying offense leads to Garden City's blowout win over Seward

Garden City, KS-To say Garden City was upset after letting one slip away Saturday in Dodge City was an understatement. Four days later, they took out all their frustrations on Seward County, and the result: some of the best basketball the Broncbusters have played this season.  

David Elliott had 16 points and 10 assists, Buru Naivalurua added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, and Garden City pummeled the Saints, 84-52 at Conestoga Arena. The Broncbusters improved to 16-7 overall and 11-7 in conference, pushing within a game of third-place Butler with six games to play. 

"To go through the stuff that we've gone through the last couple of days, and to play the way that we did says something," Head Coach, Rusty Elmore said. "Everybody stepped up, and this was a great team win."

Larry Olayinka posted 16 points, seven rebounds and a season-high four blocks for Garden City, which finished with a season-best nine rejections. They shot 54 percent from the field, were 10-of-22 from downtown, had 26 assists on 31 made baskets and outrebounded Seward County 37-21. 

"It's a great win because that's a good team," Elmore explained. "I'm super proud of our guys." 

Defensively, the Broncbusters limited the Saints to just 35 percent shooting and 5-of-17 on 3s. In fact, the visitors missed 10 of their first 11 shots from the field as Garden City raced out to an 18-2 advantage.    

 "We just need to keep coming and build off this," Elmore added.  

When Olayinka grabbed Naivalurua's missed layup and rattled the rim with an emphatic right-handed putback, the Broncbusters were up by 16 eight minutes into the game. Then, after Seward County sliced the lead down to seven, the Broncbusters quickly restored order. Logan Feltman canned a 3-pointer, and Cooper Autry lobbed a perfect pass to Jaborri McGhee, who hammered it home with two hands. Moments later, Autry located Elliott, who knocked down a triple from the wing, capping a 13-6 run that put Garden City up 37-23 at the break. 

"We need our defense to travel," Elmore said. "Hopefully, moving forward, our defense will lead to more offense, especially with three straight games on the road."

That defense was on full display over the final 20 minutes of the game as the Broncbusters outscored the Saints 47-29 in the second half. In turn, the offense was lights out, and Elliott's 3-pointer with 16 minutes to go polished off a 14-0 run that put the home team up by 26. They led by as many as 37 after Elliott swished a pair of free throws to make it 68-32 with 9:41 remaining.  

Eight of the nine players who suited up on Wednesday scored including Autry, who made his first start of the season. The Holcomb native drilled a 3-pointer early in the first half that spearheaded a 14-0 surge. He finished with three points and four assists. McGhee, who came off the bench for the first time, scored 16 points, and DaJion Humphrey added 13 points and seven boards. 

Wilson Dubinsky paced the Saints with 11 points but was just 3-of-11 from the field.