Garden City Boys Basketball Secures WAC Title with Win over Hays

Garden City, KS (WesternKansasNews.com) – After last season’s 10-11 season Garden City boys basketball knew that there was a foundation being laid for something bigger. Step one of that foundation was finished on Friday night in a win for Garden City (18-1 7-0 WAC) over conference rival Hays. The final result was 56-48 in a game where Garden City did what they do best in closing moments, bringing a sense of poise and focus which is a direct reflection of their head coach Jeff Williamson. 

Williamson who came to Garden City last year from Woodward High School in Oklahoma knew what his team was capable of. With the help of fantastic play, coaching, and discipline his team achieved step one of their plan they hope ends with a 6A State Championship. 

The Buffaloes who are now ranked 4th in the state have had a target firmly planted on their backs since the beginning of January and they were treated as such by a fiery Hays team that is traditionally the golden standard in the WAC after all the Indians have won four out of the last five conference championships. 

The Buffaloes didn’t get outscored in a quarter all night long that consistency helped them stay out in front of Hays. They leaned on their top 3 leading scorers Jace Steinmetz who finished the game with his 9th 20-plus point game of the season a total of 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Jake Underwood scored 12 points and 14 rebounds then Caleb Wiese chipped in with 12 points of his own. 

“It was a complete team effort from my coaches to the players, and it’s ok to celebrate the little things and the big things. We will do that here but the job is not finished we have one more thing on our mind this season.” Jeff Williamson said after the win while his team cut down the nets after winning the WAC outright for the first time since 2019. 

The Buffaloes have one more game left this season at Liberal High School on Tuesday before potentially hosting two Sub-State home games as postseason play begins. You can hear the Buffaloes’ final game of the season on 99.9 The Rock as coverage beings at 6 pm with Garden City Girls basketball and the boys to follow from Seward County.