McGee lifts Garden City past Barton for season sweep

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Basketball 101: it doesn't always have to be pretty to be effective.

Donetria McGee scored 17 points, Kealani Neves chipped in 10 including a clutch jumper in the final minute, and Garden City rallied to beat Barton 45-44 Monday night at Conestoga Arena. The Broncbusters improved to 12-5 overall and 7-5 in conference.

"Nee Nee did some good things for us tonight," Head Coach, Antwain Scales said afterwards. "She did some really good things down the stretch for us."

The sophomore shined on a night in which Garden City shot just 33 percent from the field and failed to hit a 3 for just the third time this season.

"We just had way too many mental errors," Scales explained. "We lost shooters all night, but down the stretch, we figured things out."

The Broncbusters failed to score for the first 3:30 of the game, yet still found a way to tie the score at the end of the first. But the second quarter could have easily been their undoing. Scales bunch missed 13 of their 15 shots and trailed by five after Morgan Meyers canned two free throws. However, thanks to another tremendous defensive effort, one in which Garden City forced 19 turnovers and limited the Cougars to 39 percent shooting and 3-of-12 from deep, the Broncbusters were only down 20-15 at the half.

"It took us a little while, but we finally got into a rhythm in the second half," Scales said.

After the Cougars built their lead to as many as seven following Acorionna Lard's 18-footer that made it 30-23 with 3:29 remaining in the third, Garden City finally got going. McGee hit a free throw, and Neves drilled a buzzer-beating jumper to pull the Broncbusters to within three heading to the fourth. In the final period, Neves hit a contested shot from the slot, McGee hit a floater in the lane; then swished two free throws before converting a sensational three-point play that brought the crowd to its feet and tied the game at 42 with 1:15 left.

"Free throw shooting has been an Achilles heel for Nee Nee this year," Scales said. But she figured it out."

After Barton recaptured the lead on Morgan Meyers two charity shots, Neves answered with a huge jumper from the right elbow to tie it at 44 with 49 seconds on the clock. That was followed by a defensive stop and a Barton foul, which sent Desiree Smith, a 16 percent free throw shooter to the line.

"We had all the confidence in her," Scales said. "We really haven't had her on the floor a lot the last few games, but our confidence never wavered."

After Smith's first free throw bounced off the back rim, the freshman sent a high arching shot towards the rim, a fling that appeared destined to either hit the rafters, or sail over the basket entirely. Instead, the shot banked in off the glass, giving the home team a 45-44 advantage with nine seconds remaining.

"We can't put ourselves in those types of positions," Scales admitted. "We have to execute better."

Barton had one last chance to salvage the game, but Lili Shubert's 3-pointer in the closing seconds was wide right, giving Garden City a much-needed one-point victory.

Alexis Smith finished with four points, six assists, and season-high seven rebounds for Garden City, which completed a season sweep of Barton.  

Brennan Kirchoff scored 13 points for the Cougars in a losing effort.  Jenny Nkem Womsi had 10 points and 13 boards.

Next up: Garden City at Coffeyville-Wednesday, Jan. 19-5:30 p.m. CDT