Great Bend's boys followed their familiar script against Western Athletic Conference basketball-leader Garden City High School.
The Panthers sliced a 14-point lead to 26-23 when 3-pointers by Trey Ibarra and Cody Crosby were followed by a free throw by Jacob Murray and two free throws apiece by Crosby and Shade Wondra with five minutes left. The Panthers made 5 of 8 free throws in that stretch.
The Panthers had locked down Garden City standout Caleb Tramp with an effective box-and-one defense. The minute the 6-foot-4 Tramp escaped the Panthers' effective trap, he knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers to spark the Buffaloes' 48-33 victory Friday night.
Erwin Leal fed Tramp for back-to-back 3-pointers in the corner as the Panthers switched to a zone defense. Ibarra answered with a 3-pointer, but Tramp trumped that with his third 3-pointer for a 35-29 lead with 2:40 left. The Buffaloes scored 22 points in the final five minutes, converting nine consecutive free throws.
Great Bend coach Chris Battin wisely elected to employ a slowdown game with the Panthers effectively running a patient offense and a box-and-one defense that kept the Buffaloes in check.
The Buffaloes built a 26-12 lead with an 11-0 scoring run. Ekil Love scored two baskets and Tramp scored twice, once on a 50-50 call when he drew a blocking call against Shade Wondra on a hard drive to the basket for a 23-12 lead.
Tramp finished with a game high 18 points and Jared Koster added eight points. Garden City (11-6, 5-0) was in control of the WAC race with a two-game lead on Hays High. Great Bend (2-14, 0-5 WAC) also lost to Garden City 41-30 in Hays  and 47-38 in Garden City.
Ibarra led Great Bend with 13 points and Crosby added 11 points. The Panthers hit 2 for 16 on 2-pointers against a taller and physical Garden City defense. They were 7 of 17 behind the line for a 9 of 33 effort (27.2 percent) while the Buffs finished at 16 of 40 (40 percent).

Garden City—Tramp 7-10 1-2 18, Olivas 1-6 2-2 5, Koster 2-9 2-2 8, Reyes 2-4 2-2 6, Leal 0-1 0-0 0, Love 3-8 2-2 8, Acosta 0-1 0-0 0, Rojas 1-1 1-1 3. Totals 16-40 10-11 48.
Great Bend—Ibarra 4-6 1-2 13, Crosby 3-10 2-4 11, Smith 1-2 0-0 2, Sullivan 1-1 0-0 2, Murray 0-2 2-4 2, Wondra 0-9 2-2 2, Bryant 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 9-33 9-14 33.
Garden City 10 7 9 22 — 48
Great Bend 7 5 6 15 — 33
3-point goals—GC 6-13 (Tramp 3-4, Olivas 1-4, Koster 2-4, Leal 0-1), GB 7-17 (Ibarra 4-6, Crosby 3-8, Murray 0-1, Wondra 0-2). Rebounds—GC 28 (Tramp 7), GB 23 (Crosby 6). TO—GC 8, GB 10).