Broncbusters sprint past Seward; improve to 10-1 in last 11 games

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Connor Pilosof

Liberal, KS-Garden City needed a quick bounce back after Thursday night's loss to No. 8 Dodge City.

Mission accomplished.

Heru Bligen scored 22 points, Jyre McCloud and Mohamed Diara each chipped in 14, and 18^th-ranked Garden City topped Seward County, 81-65 at the Greenhouse Saturday night. The Broncbusters, which won for the 10^th time in their last 11 games, improved to 18-6 overall and 12-6 in conference. They also moved within a half game of Hutchinson for second place in the Jayhawk.

Garden City shot 51 percent, hit 20-of-26 at the line and forced 23 turnovers. Their bench produced 28 points and they outrebounded the Saints, 34-23.

For the most part, Bill Morosco's team controlled the tempo. Garden City used an 18-12 run to close the half, turning a one-point edge into a seven-point halftime cushion. Then, eight seconds into the second period, Micah Octave drilled a 3-pointer from the wing to give the Broncbusters their first double-digit advantage of the night. Bligen followed with a 10-foot turnaround, and Diarra knocked in a contested shot in the paint for a 45-35 lead with 16:00 remaining.

After Seward County stormed back, cutting the lead to one on the heels of an 11-2 surge, Tone Hunter, who shot just 3-of-17 on Thursday night vs. Dodge City, canned a 26-foot trey with two defenders draped all over him, McCloud bullied his way to the basket for a three-point play, and Hunter nailed another triple-this time from the left sideline, putting Garden City up, 63-48 with 7:27 on the clock. They led by as many as 17 in the second half.

Mike Carson tallied 12 points and five boards in 22 minutes for Garden City. Hunter added 12 points but was saddled with foul trouble for most of the night.

Branton McCrary paced Seward County with 21 points. Wilson Dubinsky added 17 on 5-of-10 from downtown.

Next up: Garden City at NW Tech-Wednesday, Feb. 9-8 p.m.