Garden City shuts down NOC-Enid; improves to 2-0

By Mike Pilosof

Enid, OK-Through two games, the Broncbuster defense has been lights out.

Garden City limited Northern Oklahoma-Enid to just 37 percent shooting (17-of-46), Kealani Neves poured in 17 points in 28 minutes, and the Broncbusters improved to 2-0 with a 57-46 victory over the Jets Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Center.

The Broncbusters dominated the second half, turning a five-point deficit at the intermission into a double-digit rout. They outscored Northern Oklahoma-Enid 37-21 over the final 20 minutes and shot 13-of-28 from the field.

But it took Antwain Scales' team a half to figure things out.

Garden City fell down by six early in the second quarter following an Ashton McCorry turnover that led to a Cassidy Franklin layup. Justis Odom, who only played 13 minutes, answered with a short shot in the paint for the Broncbusters, Donetria McGee slithered her way to the rim, and the road team was within two, 20-18 with 4:04 left. But Elizabeth Simpson quickly drilled a 3 on the other end; then sank a pair of free throws, giving Northern Oklahoma-Enid a 25-18 advantage. They led 25-20 at the break and held the Broncbusters to just one field goal over the final four minutes of the second period.

The third quarter was a different story.

Neves immediately made a dent, nailing a pair of 3s in the first two minutes before curling off a screen and knocking down a midrange jumper, McGee forced her way to the basket for two, and Garden City had a two-point edge. That was followed by a tremendous stretch by Dayshawna Carter, who split two defenders for a layup; then knocked down a 16-foot jumper, giving the Broncbusters a 39-34 edge. They led by one going to the fourth.

"NOC is a good team," Scales said afterwards. "Both of these squads tested us in these first two games."

The Broncbusters put the game away in the final stanza. Neves sank two free throws and an open trey, and McGee beat two defenders to the basket for a 50-44 lead with 6:02 remaining. Neves connected on another jumper, and Payton Hicks swished two freebies, pushing the Garden City advantage to 10.

McGee chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds for Garden City. Carter added 10 points and six boards in 25 minutes off the bench.

Elizabeth Simpson was the lone Northern Oklahoma-Enid player to reach double figures, tallying 10 on 4-of-11 shooting.

Next up: Garden City at Barton-Wednesday, Nov. 17-5:30 p.m.