Turning the tables: No. 24 Garden City takes down Butler

Garden City, KS-Associate Head Coach, Bobby Naubert may have had the quote of the week when referencing the Jan. 11 meeting vs. Butler in El Dorado: "I don't even recognize that team anymore."

He was referring to his squad's sluggish 3-of-17 performance from downtown in a 10-point loss at the Power Plant. But since then, the Broncbusters have reeled off 10 wins in their last 12 games including Saturday's thriller, a game that went a long way in helping Garden City secure a first-round bye in next week's Region VI Tournament. 

David Elliott was spectacular again, dropping in 25 points and dishing out seven assists, Jaborri McGhee added 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and the 24^th-ranked Broncbusters beat Butler, 78-77 at Conestoga Arena. Garden City improved to 21-7 overall and 16-7 in league play, moving into a tie with Barton for third place in the conference standings with Wednesday night's regular-season finale looming in Hutchinson. 

"Our toughness won this game," Head Coach, Rusty Elmore said. "I'm just glad we won this. Our baseball team and our student section was unbelievable." 

Garden City finished 27-of-54 from the field marking their third straight game over 50 percent shooting. They were 9-of-21 from 3 and outrebounded Butler, 36-22. They also outscored the Grizzlies, 36-24 in the paint.  

"I'm so proud of these guys that I don't even know what to say," Elmore said with a smile. "That was a gutty win, and we got stops down the stretch when we needed them."

After leading by as many as 14 in the first half and 11 early in the second period after McGhee's tough midrange jumper made it 50-39, the Grizzlies responded with a 15-3 run punctuated by Rob Brown's steal and layup that put the visitors in front, 54-53.

"When things weren't going our way, we found a way," Elmore said. "That's what I'm most proud of." 

The Grizzlies were up 62-58 after Tahjae Hill connected from the right elbow with 9:39 to go. But the freshman was called for a technical foul after taunting the Broncbuster bench. Boston Harker buried two free throws, Larry Olayinka made 1-of-2 at the line, and Buru Naivalurua made a twisting turnaround jump shot that put Garden City back in front. Moments later, Butler Head Coach, Kyle Fisher was t'd up. Harker hit three more freebies, and Humphrey stole the ball from Hill; then hammered down an emphatic right-handed jam in transition for a 72-65 Broncbuster advantage with 3:05 to go. 

"This was a big win for us," Elmore said. "Kyle is one of the best coaches in the league, and Butler is a very good team." 

But even with the game seemingly in hand after Humphrey's free throw made it 78-72 with eight seconds left, the Grizzlies put a major scare into the raucous crowd. Brown nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and McGhee threw away the ensuing inbounds pass right to Butler's Javon Grant. But instead of kicking it out for 3, the Grizzlies' point guard dished it to Isaiah Williams for a meaningless layup at the buzzer as the Broncbusters survived a wild second half. 

Naivalurua finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks in 38 minutes for Garden City, which won its sixth straight game. Humphrey added 11 points but was in foul trouble for most of the night. 

Hill scored 20 off the bench for Butler (21-8, 15-8), which lost for the second time in their last three games. Brown chipped in 19 points and seven rebounds, and Isaac Ondekane had 14 and eight boards.  

Garden City looked sharp in the first half, using a 16-0 run that included a triple by David Elliott and another by McGhee from the wing that put the Broncbusters up 18-5 with 12:19 remaining. They pushed it to as many as 14 after Humphrey knocked down a turnaround from the right bassline to make it 26-12. But the Grizzlies worked their way back into the game, using a 27-14 surge to pull to within one following Ondekane's two free throws. But with time winding down in the half, McGhee hit a step-back 3-pointer from the wing, and Garden City was up 43-39 at the intermission.