Heartbreaker at the Horn: Broncbusters Fall 87–85 to Cloud County

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

Garden City, KS — The Garden City Community College men's basketball team came up just short in a dramatic conference battle Saturday afternoon, falling 87–85 to Cloud County Community College in a game that featured momentum swings, clutch plays, and a chaotic final sequence at Conestoga Arena.

Cloud County struck first behind early offensive rebounds and perimeter shooting, jumping out to a quick lead. Garden City weathered the early surge and began settling in behind strong interior play from Lucas Kalimba and energetic defense from Dasean Lewis and DeVonte Reed. The Broncbusters gradually chipped away, using second-chance points and transition buckets to stay within striking distance.

Midway through the first half, Michael Solaja and Christian Smiley knocked down timely three-pointers to spark the offense, while Jamir Westry provided key minutes on both ends of the floor. After trailing by as many as eight, Garden City closed the half on a run and carried a 46–44 lead into halftime following a tough Lewis bucket at the buzzer.

The second half turned into a back-and-forth battle. Cloud County leaned on interior scoring, while the Broncbusters answered with relentless effort and hustle. Westry caught fire midway through the half, attacking downhill, finishing through contact, and stringing together a personal run that helped pull Garden City back within one possession during a critical stretch.

Down the stretch, the intensity reached another level. With under a minute remaining and the game tied or separated by a single possession multiple times, both teams traded stops, turnovers, and clutch rebounds. The final seconds were pure chaos.

With .4 seconds remaining, a loose-ball foul sent Dasean Lewis to the free-throw line with a chance to win the game. After already missing two free throws in the closing second earlier in the possession, Lewis stepped to the line for three shots — but all three attempts came up empty. Cloud County escaped with the narrow 87–85 win.

Despite the result, Garden City showed grit and competitiveness throughout. Jamir Westry delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, providing a spark offensively and defensively during key moments. Lewis battled all night on both ends, while Kalimba, Reed, and Lott each made crucial contributions as the Broncbusters fought until the final horn.

Next Up:
The Broncbusters return to Conestoga Arena on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026, hosting Colby Community College in the next Jayhawk Conference matchup.