Robinson, Tut Combine To Lead Broncbusters Past Seward County
Garden City Community College mens basketball team played on the road vs Seward County Community College on Saturday February 17, 2024 in Liberal, Kan. The Busters defeated the Saints 81 - 71. Photo credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
LIBERAL, Kan. – Recently, basketball has seen the teams that find momentum at the right time go on deep playoff runs. Teams like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Florida Atlantic Owls were all seen as major underdogs going into their respective postseasons, but went onto the semifinals of their tournaments.
Garden City, with just four games left on the schedule, hopes that can be them.
The Garden City Broncbusters defeated the Seward County Saints on Saturday, 81-71, at The Greenhouse. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for GCCC, heading into its final four games.
“We have to stay together and keep fighting, and just realize that our best basketball is ahead of us,” assistant coach Jaxon Autry said. “We can be so dangerous if we put it together at the right time.”
The Broncbusters certainly were good at the right times of Saturday’s games, taking a double-digit lead early and closing the game scoring 11 of the final 17 points.
Broncbusters guard Brody Robinson lit up The Greenhouse early. The sophomore started two-for-three from downtown, hitting three straight baskets to grow the lead to eight early on.
Robinson had 16 first-half points, drilling six of his ten attempts.
“[Brody], what can you say about him?” Autry said. “He’s special.”
The Saints stayed in the game by getting to the well. Seward scored 18 of their 33 points from the paint early, with Mathias M’Madi and Lovasoa Andriatsarafara combining for 21.
“They’ve been playing a lot better,” Autry praised. “There were stretches where we had to make plays.
Carson Bennett started the second half on fire. The Saints freshman drained two three-pointers, over the top of Braxton Jones, to cut the lead to four.
Bennett drilled five three-pointers, finishing with 15 points.
The Broncbusters found ways to hit big shots late. Jordan Frazier and Thomas Tut had key and-ones in the final five minutes, sucking the momentum out of the Seward crowd.
“I thought Thomas Tut was really, really good,” Autry said. “It’s huge whenever guys can’t just put their eyes on [Brody Robinson].”
Tut finished the game scoring eight of his team’s final 12 points. The St. Peter’s transfer closed with 20 points and 12 rebounds, completing his 11th double-double of the season.
Seward County was paced by Mathias M’Madi, who closed with 22 points.
The Broncbusters completed the season sweep over Seward County, advancing to 4-0 under the Saints in the Rusty Elmore era.
Garden City will look for another sweep on Wednesday against the Coffeyville Red Ravens. Coverage begins on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ immediately after women’s basketball’s 5:30 P.M. tipoff, loosely slated for 7:30.
Jaxon Autry interview
