BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The Great Bend girls started on fire by converting 9 of 15 field goals to lead Garden City's basketball team 22-13.

The rest of the night was a shooting nightmare. 

Garden City knocked off Great Bend 54-47 in Friday's Western Athletic Conference opener. The Panthers made 8 of 42 field goals for 19% after their hot start.

Great Bend's Sadie Spray was spectacular at times with 26 points and a trio of 3-pointers. The rest of the Panthers made 9 of 35 field goals in a spirited effort.

Spray hit her first five attempts and Makenzie Premer and Kara Feist each hit a pair of field goals in the fast start. The Panthers lost momentum by missing six consecutive free throws, including a pair of bonus attempts in the second period.

The Panthers played with superb effort and intensity, but were unable to overcome the 19% shooting after the fast start. Time-after-time, the Panthers endured lengthy scoring droughts.

"We came out ready to play, but lost some opportunities," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "We got lackadaisical at times. We've got to collect ourselves (mentally) after those spurts and get a stop to it.  We've got to keep working to push each other and compete."

Garden City outscored the Panthers 20-6 in the final six minutes of the first half. The Buffaloes converted 6 of 14 first-half attempts from 3-point range for a 33-28 lead. Amaya Gallegos, Kamdyn Carr and Ryann Warren combined for 8-of-8 on 3-point attempts.

"We knew they'd live-and-die on the 3-pointer," Beck said. "We were giving them shots, and they were banking them in. It one of those nights where their shots were falling. That's tough to put a stop to it."

Gallegos hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers. Gallegos scored 15 points and Kierrah Pinchon added 12 points.

Spray hit a trio of fourth-quarter 3-pointers, but the Panthers made 4 of 20 field goals in the final quarter. The Buffaloes missed 10 free throws in the fourth period.

"We got turnovers, which is what you're asking," Beck said. "I appreciate the fight the girls showed. Sadie made a couple of 3-pointers. Our next game is coming. We've got to get past this and play better basketball."

The Buffaloes (4-4, 1-0 WAC) triumphed despite converting 8 of 24 free throws. Garden City also surprised the Panthers last year during a 3-18 campaign. The Panthers (4-3, 0-1 WAC) face WAC contender Hays High Tuesday at home.

Garden City 13 20 10 11 — 54

Great Bend 17 11 7 13 — 47

GARDEN CITY (4-4, 1-0)—Gallegos 5-7 2-4 15, Kierrah Pinchon 5-13 0-4 12, Bererril 2-7 4-4 8, Lucas 3-11 1-10 7, Carr 2-3 0-0 6, Warren 2-3 1-2 6, Villegas 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 19-45 8-24 54

GREAT BEND (4-3, 0-1)—Spray 8-22 7-9 26, Hall 3-14 1-2 7, Thexton 2-9 1-1 5, Premer 2-4 0-3 4, Ellegood 0-0 0-2 0, Totals 17-57 9-17 47

3-pointers—GC 8-20 (Gallegos 3-3, Carr 2-2, Pinchon 2-6, Warren 1-1, Becerill 0-3, Lucas 0-5); GB 4-15 (Spray 3-10, Feist 1-4, Thexton 0-1)