BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
GARDEN CITY — Great Bend rallied from an early 16-2 deficit for a hard-fought 59-54 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory over Garden City.
The Buffaloes opened with a lightning quick 16-2 start fueled by flawless 7-of-7 shooting outside of a blocked shot by Panther Stefan Spray. Cooper Ramsey converted four consecutive field goals. The Buffaloes shockingly shifted the momentum by electing to play their back-up unit after hitting 7 of 8 field goals.
Great Bend's Braylon Council drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and Stefan Spray and Carter Coombs hit 3-pointers to ignite an equally stunning 19-1 scoring streak for a 21-17 lead. The only nervous moment came when the Buffaloes' scoreboard operator credited a basket for Garden City instead of Great Bend.
Panther Carter Coombs scored 17 points and Stefan Spray contributed 10 points and clutch rebounding and defense. Joseph Moeder, as always, drew a charging foul and proved to be the glue inside with a hustling 9-point effort. Point guard Sage Koelsch chipped in five points and his typical fearless play running the offense.
"We started off a step behind. All the credit goes to the guys," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. "We didn't lose our poise and it paid dividends. Our guys have proven they don't give up. When their second team came in, we fortunately took advantage."
The Buffaloes tied the score at 36 and 38, but never regained the lead again. Ramsey, in particular, went scoreless after an opening 10-point outburst.
After a 38-38 tie, Sage Koelsch scored and Joseph Moeder converted two free throws and Coombs drilled a 3-pointer for a 45-39 lead.
After trailing 54-46, the Buffaloes rallied within 56-54 when Steinmetz drilled a 3-pointer after Wiese, Brandon Springston and Tae Rosales scored.
The Buffaloes climbed within 56-54 in the final minute when Council, Joseph Moeder and Stefan Spray each made one free throw. The Panthers converted 10 free throws in the fourth period.
"After that start, we matched up with Ramsey really well," Kriegh said. "They've got good shooters."
Great Bend 9 20 16 14 — 59
Garden City 17 10 24 13 — 54
GREAT BEND (3-4, 1-0)—Coombs 4-14 5-6 14, Stefan Spray 3-5 3-4 10, Joseph Moeder 3-5 3-4 9, Koelsch 1-2 3-4 5, Stuhlsatz 2-4 1-1 5, Hernandez 1-1 0-0 2, Mathew Moeder 1-1 0-0 2, Brack 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 19-36 16-21 59.
GARDEN CITY (4-4, 0-1)—Rosales 4-6 3-5 13, Steinmetz 5-12 0-0 13, Springston 4-6 2-4 10, Ramsey 5-6 0-0 10, Wiese 3-8 1-4 7, Underwood 0-1 1-2 1, Guevera 0-2 0-2 0, Salinas 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 21-41 7-17 54.
3-pointers—GB 5-11 (Council 2-2, Coombs 2-8, S. Spray 1-1), GC 5-10 (Steinmetz 3-5, Rosales 2-4, Salinas 0-1). Technical—GC Koksal.
GARDEN CITY GIRLS 49, GREAT BEND 40
GARDEN CITY — Once Garden City's Aileen Beccerril got rolling, Great Bend's girls had no answer.
Beccerril converted three consecutive 3-pointers to spark a game-ending 22-7 scoring run for a 49-40 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory over Great Bend Friday. The Buffaloes swept their eighth consecutive game over the Panthers by forcing turnovers on six of eight late-game possessions.
Melyne Fletchall passed to Taryn Warren for a 33-27 lead when the Panthers collapsed.
The Panthers had defended Beccerril with four players and shut her out the first half. She hit her first 3-pointer against a zone defense that ignited her 11-point fourth quarter.
Great Bend's Emilee Hall (15 points) and Makenzie Premer (11 points) scored career highs as the Panthers played with confidence for three quarters. But they were unable to respond to fourth-quarter adversity.
"When we were challenged, we shied away," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "We were nervous and played scared."
Great Bend 6 13 12 9 — 40
Garden City 10 5 12 22 — 49
GREAT BEND (2-5, 0-1)—Hall 5-13 5-6 13, Premer 4-7 2-4 11, Warren 2-3 4-7 8, Fletchall 1-3 0-0 3, Spray 0-3 2-2 2, Kaiser 0-3 1-2 1, Emma:Loomis 0-5 0-0 0, Totals 12-37 14-21 40.
GARDEN CITY (1-7, 1-0)—Beccerril 5-11 2-2 15, Gallegos 5-14 5-6 15, Roth 3-7 2-5 8, Lucas 3-4 1-3 8, Tesch 1-3 0-0 3, Mesa 0-4 0-0 0, Totals 17-43 10-16 49.
3-pointers—GB 2-12 (Premer 1-2, Fletchall 1-3, Kaiser 0-2, E. Loomis 0-2, Spray 0-3); GC 5-19 (Beccerril 3-5, Lucas 1-1, Tesch 1-2, Roth 0-2, Mesa 0-4, Gallegos 0-5).
