May 9, 2024

Elk City, OK (westernkansasnews.com)–The Garden City Buffalo basketball teams wrapped up their two-day trip through Oklahoma, as they made their way to Elk City, Oklahoma, facing the Elks and Elkettes Saturday at the Elk City Pioneer Classic. It would be a tough day for the Buffaloes, as the girls were unable to complete the rally in a 35-29 loss, while the boys saw Elk City pull away in the fourth quarter to take a 60-44 win.

Elk City Girls 35, Garden City 29
Garden City struggled scoring in the first three quarters, but made up for it in the fourth quarter to come close to completing the comeback. Elk City jumped out to an 8-0 lead, just two minutes into the game, and saw the Lady Buffs pull to within 8-7 and 10-0. Garden City had several opportunities to lead in the first quarter, but couldn’t come up with the points. The Elkettes led 10-9 after the first quarter, and 15-10 at the break. It would be a lengthy scoring drought for the Lady Buffs, who had just one point in the second and third periods. They went 11:50 without a point, and 21:30 without a field goal in the middle of the game. Elk City led 26-10 heading into the final quarter, and led 29-13 in the first minute of the final frame. Garden City would finally start heating up, using a 14-1 run to get to within 30-27 with 1:36 left. They did pull to within 32-29 with 49 seconds left, but the Elkettes closed with the final three points.

Elk City was led by Hailey Buie with 14 points and Y’Leigh Yarbrough added 10 points. Aileen Becceril led Garden City with eight, all in the final quarter.

Garden City 9-1-0-19-29
Elk City       10-5-11-9-35

Garden City (0-2): Mesa 0 0-0 0; Tesch 0 0-0 0; Roth 1 3-5 5; Becceril 2 0-0 8; Warren 0 0-0 0; Pinchon 2 2-3 6; Lucas 1 1-4 4; Gallegos 2 2-4 6; Team: 6 8-16 29
Elk City (2-0): Martin 0 0-0 0; Burton 0 0-0 0; D. Sottile 0 2-2 2; Robbins 1 1-2 3; Wyatt 1 2-2 4; Buie 3 5-6 14; Rainey 0 0-0 0; Kimball 0 2-2 2; Yarbrough 3 3-4 10; E. Sottile 0 0-0 0; Brown 0 0-0 0; Brott 0 0-0 0; Team: 8 15-18 35

Three Pointers: Garden City 3 (Becceril 2, Lucas 1), Elk City 4 (Buie 3, Yarbrough 1); Rebounds: Garden City 21, Elk City 20, Turnovers: Garden City 21, Elk City 23; Fouls: Garden City 20, Elk City 20; Fouled Out: Garden City (Becceril), Elk City (Robbins).

Matt Pfeifer Postgame

Elk City Boys 60, Garden City 44
The final game of the weekend for the Buffaloes would be closer than what the final showed. Garden City had an 8-4 lead in the first quarter, when the Elks poured in the final seven points of the period to lead 11-8 after the opening eight minutes. The Buffaloes were unable to get a lead for the rest of the game, but weren’t out of it. Elk City led 20-17 at the break, and built a 28-19 lead with three minutes remaining in the third frame, before the Buffs scored six straight to get to within 28-25 with 1:46 left in the third stanza. The Elks would end the third quarter with four points, and score the first three in the fourth quarter to grab a 35-25 lead with 6:44 left. A Garden City three pulled them to within 35-28 with 6:35 remaining, and that was the closest the got the rest of the game. Elk City closed out on an 18-10 run over the final 3:52 of the game, and led by as many as 17 late, before picking up the 60-44 win.

Ky Keyes led the Elks with 15 points, and Caden Dunlap added 11. Garden City had eight points each from Jace Steinmetz, and Tae Rosales.

Garden City 8-9-8-19-44
Elk City       11-9-12-28-60

Garden City (0-2): Koksal 0 2-2 2; Salinas 1 0-1 2; Bierra 0 0-0 0; Guevara 3 0-0 7; Korf 0 0-0 0; Metzen 0 0-0 0; Springsten 0 0-0 0; Ramsey 2 3-6 7; Steinmetz 3 0-0 8; Rosales 3 1-2 8; Wiese 0 5-8 5; Whitehurst 2 1-3 5; Team: 14 12-22 44
Elk City (1-1): Keyes 3 5-6 15; Church 1 6-8 8; Pranabdev 0 1-2 1; Jones 0 0-0 0; Redd 3 2-2 8; Dunlap 3 4-4 11; Buie 3 0-0 9; Dailey 4 0-0 8; Team: 17 18-23 60

Three Pointers: Garden City 4 (Steinmetz 2, Guevara 1, Rosales 1), Elk City 4 (Buie 3, Dunlap 1); Rebounds: Garden City 22, Elk City 23, Turnovers: Garden City 17, Elk City 31; Fouls: Garden City 19, Elk City 21; Fouled Out: None.

Garden City will play at home in the Clarion Inn Roundball Classic this week. The girls host Scott City at 6 pm Tuesday, and will face Olathe North on Thursday and Holcomb on Saturday, while the boys face Olathe North Thursday, Coronado Friday and Holcomb Saturday.