Broncbusters rally for big road win at Independence

Independence, KS-During his first month on the job, there have been plenty of sleepless nights for interim coach, Isaiah Tisdale thanks to some early-season hiccups. 

But on Wednesday night, staring at a 16-point second-half deficit, Tisdale watched as his team made an emphatic early-season statement.  

Josiah Sabino scored 24 points, Antonio Chol netted 18 in the second half, and Garden City stormed back to beat Independence, 89-85 at ICC Fieldhouse. 

Boston Harker added 15, and Caleb Smith posted a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Broncbusters, which improved to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Isaiah Dixon finished with 12 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.  

Following Dixon's missed dunk early in the second half, Trashaun Combs-Pierce tipped in David Wilson's missed layup, and Independence had a 57-41 lead with 15:44 to play.  

But after a Pirate timeout, the Broncbusters found some rhythm. Sabino nailed a 3, Dixon skied for a transition dunk off a long Chiante Tramble missed triple, and Sabino swished two free throws to bring Garden City back within single digits. 

The second half however belonged to Chol, who shook off a forgetful first 20 minutes where he was 0-fo-4 with six turnovers to lead a furious rally. He made a layup and a pair of free throws to bring Garden City to within six with 5:38 remaining. Harker followed with a 3, Chol made a runner in traffic; then drilled a step back 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 73. After a Combs-Pierce missed 3 for the Pirates, Dixon grabbed the board and raced the other way for a two-handed slam, giving the Broncbusters a 75-73 edge with 3:23 on the clock. 

Garden City never trailed again.  

Chol dropped in two more free throws and a monster 3, which was setup by Sabino, who attacked the middle of the Pirates' 2-3 zone before dishing it out to the sophomore, who rattled home a 26-footer from the left wing over a late contest by Tyland Holdman that made it 82-78.  

Independence missed a chance to tie the game in the final minute when Tramble's trey clanged off the back iron. Smith and Harker then sank four free throws over the final 30 seconds to give the Broncbusters their largest come-from-behind victory of the season.  

Chol tallied a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Garden City, which outscored the Pirates 53-36 in the second half after trailing by 13 at the break. Sabino added nine boards and three assists, and Smith had seven dimes.  

Chiante Tramble scored 24 points for Independence, which dropped to 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the Jayhawk. David Wilson chipped in 18 off the bench.  

An early 12-0 Pirate run turned a 6-4 Garden City lead into a 16-6 deficit seven minutes into the game. In fact, the Broncbusters trailed by double digits for much of the first half and turned the ball over 12 times over the first 20 minutes.