Carter and Lyons combine for 55 as Garden City downs Lamar

Garden City, KS-Dayshawna Carter scored 33 points, Jae'Mya Lyons tallied 21 points and 16 rebounds, and Garden City ran away from Lamar, 83-57 Thursday night at Conestoga Arena. 

The Broncbusters shot 47 free throws, just four behind the school record of 51 set back in 2000 vs. Independence. They also out rebounded Lamar, 47-45. 

Garden City's stifling defense was on display early on as the Lopes misfired on their first 11 shots from the field. They were just 1-of-15 in the first quarter. 

Meantime, the Broncbusters scored the first eight points of the game, and at one point led 18-1 after Carter converted a layup through traffic. The sophomore added two free throws, Jersey Mayfield made two at the line, and Garden City was up 22-3 after one. 

"We were hitting on all cylinders in the first quarter," Head Coach, Antwain Scales said. "But it was easy for us to get complacent, and that's what happened in the second quarter. We just started going through the motions and not executing."

After Garden City built its biggest lead following two more Carter free throws that made it 30-6 with 7:03 left in the half, the Lopes countered with a 19-5 run that saw the Broncbusters hit just two shots over the final seven minutes of the quarter. Their lead was only 10 at the break. 

"We just got really lazy on defense," Scales added. "Lamar capitalized on it and made it an even contest."

After Lamar got within six late in the third quarter, Garden City finally regained their form. Lyons banked home a tough layup, Carter swished a 3, Lyons hit again from in close, and the Broncbusters closed the period on an 11-0 surge to take a 58-41 lead into the fourth. 

"Our objective is to play good defense every night and to not take plays off," Scales explained. "There were a couple of times that we took plays off, and it cost us."

Destiny Smith hit a layup to begin the final frame, and Lyons connected on a leaner in the paint. That was followed by a pair of layups by Maya White Eagle and Keyhana turner as Garden City pushed the lead to 28 with 51 seconds remaining. 

Carter finished 11-of-24 from the field and 10-of-12 from the line for Garden City, which dished out 17 assists on their 26 made baskets. Turner had six points, seven rebounds, and three steals as the Broncbusters forced 27 Lamar turnovers. 

Jolee Ortiz, Jada Dupree, and Linda Ndona each scored 12 points for the Lopes, who shot just 31 percent from the field.