Saints Advance To Region VI Title Game

After looking like their 2010-2011 season might be over after 30 minutes of their Region VI Semifinal Game against the Cowley Tigers, the Seward County Saints exploded in the final 10 minutes of the contest and got a late steal and score from Jeremy Jones to come away with a thrilling 71-67 win Sunday night in Koch Arena in Wichita. The Saints were rather dreadful in the first half, managing just 7 field goals while seeing both Marky Nolen and Rafriel Guthrie in early foul trouble with 3 a piece. Seward kept themselves in the game by getting to the free throw line where they scored 16 first half points and trailed by just five, 37-32 at the break. In the second half they would finally get things going and would force 10 Cowley turnovers to get themselves back into the game and get a huge put back dunk from Daveon Boardingham to tie the game at 59 late. From there on it was Jeremy Jones time, the Seward sophomore would take over the game and even while the Saints were in bad shape in the foul department with Nolen already gone and Boardingham, Irvin Hollinger, and Rafriel Guthrie with 4, Seward managed to get defensive stops when they needed them and none of them were bigger than when Hollinger picked off a Tiger pass and threw it ahead to Jones with 30 seconds left to put Seward up 69-67 with 30 seconds remaining when Jones finished off a lay-up.On Cowley’s last possession of the game the Saints would force a tough shot and get a rebound where Jones was fouled and sent to the line where he made both free throws with under 1 second to go to wrap up the 71-67 win for Seward. The Saints would get the victory to move on despite shooting just 33% in the game and giving up 23 offensive rebounds on the night. The would be lifted by 29 points by Jones which was a game high as well as a 17 point night from Guthrie and a 13 point, 15 rebound performance from Boardingham. Seward advances to the Region VI Championship Game Monday that will be played at 8:00 against either Coffeyville or Hutchinson with a trip to the National Tournament on the line.