Seward Exacts Revenge Against Coffeyville

For 10 agonizing months, the Seward County Lady Saints had to think about what could have been last March when they let a late lead slip against Coffeyville in the Region VI Semifinals. Saturday night in the Greenhouse they got a chance to draw even with the Lady Red Ravens and that they did, using a huge third quarter and a big game from sophomore Axelle Bernard to knock off Coffeyville 66-55 to hand the Ravens their first Jayhawk Conference loss of the 2015-2016 season.

It was Coffeyville jumping out to the early lead over the Lady Saints in the first quarter, but Seward battled back behind two straight baskets on the inside from Clitan de Sousa and Axelle Bernard to tie the game at six. A three moments later from Erin Richardson put the Lady Saints in front 11-9 and five straight points from Bernard and a three from Daniela Galindo spotted Seward six point advantage, 19-13 with 39 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Ravens picked up a triple of their own before the end of the quarter and after one it was Seward County 19 and Coffeyville 16.

The Lady Saints struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the second quarter, but thankfully their stalwart defense kept them in the game. After Coffeyville retook the lead, threes by Tiani White and Samm Ashida brought the Lady Saints back to within two at 29-27 and another White long bomb at the first half horn hit its mark and after 20 minutes Seward had the lead into the locker rooms, 30-29.

Seward shot 44% as a team in the first half and held Coffeyville to 33% shooting from the field, but 13 first half turnovers for the Lady Saints and 5 Red Raven threes kept Coffeyville in the contest. Bernard led all scorers with 9 at the break while White added 8 for Seward.

The Lady Saints came out of the locker room at half charged up and ready to go. Seward quickly extended their lead to four on a three point play by Richardson, but the Ravens fought back, taking a 38-37 lead of their own after a mini 5-0 run. A Galindo three from the wing feathered its way through the net to put Seward back in front and the Lady Saints got baskets on their next three trips down the court to open up their biggest lead of the night at 46-38. Seward continued to push, getting a runner from Galindo to take a 10 point lead before finally de Sousa sliced to the bucket for two to make it 51-39 Lady Saints after three.

Just when it looked like things were under control for the Lady Saints, here came the Red Ravens. Coffeyville scored the first five out of the break and just like that it was back to a seven point game at 51-44. But the Lady Saints were not to be denied on this night. De Sousa scored four quick points for Seward to push their lead back to 11 and Coffeyville never threatened again. The Lady Saints held the Ravens without a single point for over four minutes at one point before sealing a 66-55 win in front of their home crowd.

Seward shot 52% in the second half to finish the game at 48% overall. The Lady Saints defense was equally as impressive, holding a potent Red Raven attack to just 35% shooting on the night while forcing 23 Coffeyville turnovers. Bernard led the way for the Lady Saints, flirting with a triple-double and even taking a peak at a quadruple-double as she finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 blocked shots in 38 minutes of work. White scored 11 for the Lady Saints while Galindo and de Sousa each had 10.

The win is a big one for the Lady Saints as they improve to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in Jayhawk Conference action with the victory. Coffeyville drops their first league game of the season and snaps a seven game win streak as they drop to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play.

Seward will have some time to enjoy the win as they have their first half bye on Wednesday before taking the court again next Saturday in the Greenhouse to wrap up a three game home stand with the Cloud County Thunderbirds at 6:00. Free tickets for that game can be had courtesy of our buyout sponsors Ruffinos and Hampton Inn at either of their Liberal establishments.

#23 SEWARD COUNTY/COFFEYVILLE BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/boxscores/20160109_atz1.xml?view=boxscore>

Roy Allen