The Liberal Redskins rallied from 17 points down to cut the Garden City lead to one. Would this be the night Liberal broke a WAC losing streak spanning five seasons. Liberal shot a three with a chance to tie in the game at the buzzer. But it wasn’t to be. On a night when the first three quarters ended with buzzer beaters, Liberal’s last gasp hit an unkind iron for a bitter 74-71 loss to the visiting Garden City Buffaloes. It’s Liberal’s 35 straight WAC loss and ninth straight loss to the rival Buffaloes.
Garden City took a 20-11 lead after one quarter when Daniel Monarrez banked in a half court heave. Garden bolted ahead 38-18. James Fieser buried a 40 footer at the buzzer to make it 39-25 at the half. Fieser scored 15 first half points. The Redskins clawed back to make it 49-42 and trailed 54-46 after three following a buzzer beater by Eathan Hernandez. Garden City built a 62-49 lead with 4:27 to play. The Redskins went on frenzied 21-10 run to make it 72-71. Garden City sank a pair of free throws to lead 74-71. Liberal shot a three pointer from the top of the circle at the buzzer but it hit the rim and bounced to the right for another narrow defeat. The Redskins trailed 65-59 with 3:06 to play and 67-63 with 2:03 to play. LHS trailed 69-67 with 1:15 remaining. It was 72-69 with 21.6 to play before a James Fieser lay up cut the lead to 72-71.
James Fieser led the Skins with 24. Eathan Hernandez was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game with 18 points. Adrian Gonzalez scored 11. Juan Diego added eight.
Garden City is 7-4 overall and 1-1 in the WAC. Liberal is 1-8 and 0-2 in the WAC. Liberal hosts Dodge City Friday night at about 7:45 on 1270 and 92.3.
