By MIKE KESSINGER

mkessinger@gctelegram.com

HUTCHINSON -- It could have been even worse for the Garden City Community College women's basketball team Saturday at the Sports Arena. But the score alone, a 65-27 Hutchinson win said enough.

Garden City committed as many turnovers as points they scored. The Lady Broncbusters finished with just four assists and their field goal percentage was a chilly 12.7 percent. After talking to his team in the locker room Lady Busters head coach Jake Ripple stood in the hallway holding his head in his hand leaning up against a wall.

"We were a bad offensive team tonight, bad offensive team," Ripple said. "It's what it comes down to sometimes. We got to look at ourselves as coaches and figure out if we're doing something and to change the things to get that straight. Like I told the kids they've got to look at themselves, too. Figure out what wrong, figure out what they've got to do better, too. You can't shoot 7 for 55 and expect to win games."

A team that had scored 95 points just six days before, then hit 12-of-16 from 3-point range Wednesday, Garden City (7-14, 2-4) had nothing go right on the offensive end against Hutchinson.

The Lady Busters didn't score their first points until Janel Durler hit a five-foot turnaround jumper six minutes into the game. Almost seven minutes had past before a Lataish Brown gave the Lady Busters their second basket.

Even on the defensive side, Garden City had plenty of problems. At one point in the first half, the Lady Blue Dragons got a little bit of luck when Lauren Sparks scooped up a blocked shot and from her spot behind the 3-point line put up a shot that swished through the net as the shot clock expired.

Not much went the Lady Busters way in either half as they four field goals in the first half, were followed by just three more a half later.

"I think it was a lack of effort on the offensive end," Ripple said. "I sure not taking anything away from Hutchinson, they defended the crap out of us."

Hutchinson (16-4, 5-1) never had to worry much. The Lady Busters did finish with 18 steals led by LaTaish Brown's six, but was unable to convert opportunities, Hutchinson pulled away early.

Amber Brown and Katie Novack had seven points apiece for Garden City. Fairen Lepaio led the way for the Lady Dragons with 13 points.

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GARDEN CITY (7-14, 2-4): L. Brown 1-7 2-3 4, Young 1-9 4-4 6, A. Brown 2-11 1-2 7, Copeland 0-3 0-0 0, Burnett 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 0-1 0-3 0, Schmitt 0-4 1-2 1, Durler 1-5 0-0 2, Novack 2-12 3-3 7, 0-2 0-0 0. Totals -- 7-55 11-17 27.

HUTCHINSON (16-4, 5-1): Hines 3-3 2-4 8, Leatherbury 2-4 0-0 4, Evans 1-1 0-3, 2, Shepard 1-1 0-0 3, Naccarato 3-8 0-0 6, Richardson 0-1 0-0 0, Purcell 1-4 0-2 2, Lawrence 5-8 0-1 10, Lepaio 6-9 0-0 13, Fessenden 4-7 1-1 12, Schroer 1-4 0-0 2, Sparks 1-3 0-0 3. Totals -- 28-53 3-11 65.

Halftime -- 30-16, Hutchinson. 3-Point goals -- Garden City 2-20 (A. Brown 2-5, Novack 0-6, Young 0-3, Burnett 0-3, Schmitt 0-2, Johnson 0-1); Hutchinson 6-13 (Fessenden 3-4, Lepaio 1-3, Sparks 1-2, Shepard 1-1, Leatherbury 0-1, Naccaqrato 0-1, Purcell 0-1). Rebounds -- Garden City 37 (L. Brown 7, Durler 7); Hutchinson 44 (Fessenden 7). Fouled out -- None. Assists -- Garden City 4 (Durler 2); Hutchinson 20 (Shepard 4, Fessenden 4). Blocks -- Garden City 4 (Durler 4); Hutchinson 6 (Schroer 2, Lawrence 2). Total fouls -- Garden City 8, Hutchinson 9.