Broncbusters ride fast start, balanced attack to 85–75 win over Pratt

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

Garden City, KS — Garden City kept its momentum rolling at home Saturday afternoon, using a blistering start and a balanced offensive effort to knock off Pratt Community College 85–75 at Conestoga Arena. The Broncbusters led wire-to-wire, improving to 7–1 overall and 2–0 in KJCCC play. 

Garden City's defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Broncbusters forced a string of early turnovers, turned steals by Devonte Reed and Tammar Brown into transition buckets, and raced out to an 11–2 lead behind a Reed three and a strong drive from Xavier Johnson. Midway through the half, the second unit kept the pressure on as Zaire Lott attacked the rim and Nico Doume and Mangok Gach controlled the glass. Pratt made a late push, but Garden City still carried a 44–39 lead into halftime. 

In the second half, every Pratt run was met with an answer. Nevill buried a trio of big threes, Brown hammered home a momentum dunk, and Johnson and Lott repeatedly finished in traffic as the Broncbusters methodically stretched the margin back to double figures. Garden City shot 49.2% from the field and 35.7% from three, while holding Pratt to just 33.3% shooting overall. 

Jordon Nevill paced Garden City with 15 points and 7 assists, knocking down 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and controlling the game late. Xavier Johnson was efficient with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 4-of-5 shooting, and Devonte Reed added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, stuffing the stat sheet on both ends. Off the bench, Zaire Lott poured in 15 points and 5 boards, while Mangok Gach chipped in 9 points and 8 reboundsto give Garden City a strong interior presence. 

Pratt was led by Hunter Vaughn and Seydina Faye, who each scored 20 points, with Faye adding 11 rebounds, and Muna Godswill also posting a double-double with 8 points and 11 boards. But the Broncbusters' depth and efficiency proved too much, as Garden City's bench outscored Pratt's reserves 36–21. 

With the victory, Garden City stays hot and continues to build momentum in conference play.

Next up: The Broncbusters travel to take on Fort Hays Tech Northwest on Tuesday, November 25 at 8:30 p.m.