Smith’s three seals T-Birds’ 58-54 win over Broncbusters

With Cloud County Community College clinging to a one-point lead and time running out on the shot clock, sophomore guard Destiny Smith had two choices, shoot the ball or turn it over.
Smith opted to launch a deep three-point attempt that she connected on with 15 seconds remaining in the game on to seal the Thunderbirds' 58-54 Jayhawk Conference victory over the previously unbeaten Garden City Community College Broncbusters, Wednesday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
The three by Smith gave Cloud County a four-point advantage.
Garden City's Carly Lang misfired on a three-point attempt and Cloud County came away with the rebound as time expired.
"That was the ball game and I am sure glad she hit it. When she let it go, my thought was I hope it hits the rim and we can maybe get a rebound," Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said of Smith's shot. "I was really happy for her, happy for our team, but happy for her because she transferred from Garden City and that was a big moment for her and a really emotional victory for our team.”
Cloud County snapped a two-game losing skid with the win, and is now 6-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
"It was huge. There is such a difference between 2-2 and 1-3. We can't afford to lose two straight at home," Erkenbrack said.
Garden City is 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference with the loss.
The Broncbusters took a 54-51 lead on the T-Birds when Maya Nieto hit a three with 3:22 to play in the game.
Cloud County scored the final seven points to pull out the win.
Two free throws by Sarah Lawless pulled the T-Birds within a point, 54-53.
Following an empty possession by Garden City, Josephine Igherighe took a pass from Kirya Mack and scored in the lane to put Cloud County on top to stay, 55-54.
Igherighe scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half. She finished 5 of 14 from the field and seven of nine from the free throw line, and grabbed 11 rebounds.
"Josie (Igherighe) just kind of took over the game in the second half. She was great in the second half, and especially in the fourth quarter," Erkenbrack said.
Garden City's Sierra Driessen missed a shot in the lane, but the T-Birds turned the ball over.
The Broncbusters missed on two attempts in the lane to reclaim the lead, and Cloud County came way with the ball.
The T-Birds ran the shot clock down until Smith buried the big three.
Darcy Lierz was five of seven from the floor in scoring 13 points for Cloud County.
"I thought Darcy Lierz was excellent all night long. I thought she really grew up and elevated her level of play when we really needed it," Erkenbrack said.
Maimouna Sissoko, limited to just 21 minutes because of foul trouble, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Driessen led Garden City with 16 points. Ana Ramos Pires scored 11 and Antonicia Moultrie added 10.
Cloud County led by as many as five points in the early going, but went the final 3:37 of the first quarter without scoring.
Garden City scored eight straight points to go up 13-10.
Trailing 15-10 early in the second quarter, the T-Birds used a 12-2 run to go back on top, 22-17.
The Broncbusters closed the gap to 26-25 at halftime.
A 14-4 spurt in the third period gave Garden City its biggest lead at 39-31.
Cloud County then battled back to get within one point, 42-41, heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
The T-Birds reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter, and were up 48-43 when Sissoko hit a jumper with 6:28 on the clock.
Garden City scored the next eight points, and led 51-48.
The two teams exchanged threes, and the Broncbusters were on top, 54-51.
Scoring the final seven points of the game, the T-Birds claimed the win.
Cloud County is on the road to play Dodge City Community College on Saturday.