Mounsey’s 40 Helps Seward Clinch Share of Conference

It was sophomore night in the Greenhouse Monday night, but Seward freshman Mollie Mounsey stole the show, tying a school record with 10 three pointers in route to just the third 40 point game in school history as #4 Seward knocked off Garden City 86-55 to clinch their share of the Jayhawk Conference Championship in front of their home crown.

The start of the game was a preview of things to come Monday as Mollie Mounsey buried a three on Seward’s first possession of the game and scored 13 of the Lady Saints first 15 points of the game to give Seward an early 15-10 lead on visiting Garden City. Mounsey hit another three later on to give her 16 in the quarter and Erin Richardson followed suit to put Seward up 21-14 late in the first. A three point play by Joanna Grymek gave the Lady Saints their biggest lead of the quarter before four Garden City points to close the quarter made it a 24-18 game after one.

Seward stretched their lead to 12 early in the second quarter and looked like they might just put the Busters out of their misery early, but a Garden City team coming off of their first back to back wins since Thanksgiving hung around, holding their deficit at just 12 as the two teams went to the break at 41-29.

The Lady Saints picked up some steam after the break, getting a three from Mounsey to make it a 15 point game and then another moments later to push it to a 53-35 Seward County lead. She kept on going, popping two more triples before the end of the quarter and assisting on a Grymek bucket in the paint to help Seward open up a 65-42 lead after three.

Mounsey’s ninth three of the game gave Seward a 74-48 advantage midway through the fourth and the freshman tied Daniela Galindo’s record with her tenth triple moments later, giving her 40 points on the night to make her one of just three players in school history to top the 40 point mark. With their first conference title since 2010 in their grasps, the Lady Saints started to feel it, finishing the game strong to a standing ovation before wrapping up an 86-55 win to claim their prize.

Mounsey finished with 40 points, making her the first freshman to ever top the 40 point mark while putting her in the company of just Rachel Barnes and Daniela Galindo who have ever done it in Seward green and white. Grymek was overshadowed in her third straight double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds on 7 of 8 shooting while Brennyn Seagler added 13 points and 7 boards.

The Lady Saints finish their first season of the Jayhawk Conference ‘Super Schedule’ at 25-1, good only for a tie with Hutchinson for the top spot. Seward claims their share of their first conference title since 2010 with the win. Garden City falls to 10-20 overall and finishes conference play at 8-18.

Seward won again after the game, winning a coin flip with Hutchinson for the top spot in the upcoming Region VI Tournament. That means the Lady Saints will have a bye in the first round before taking on the winner of the Independence/Allen game on Monday in Park City’s Hartman Arena at 1:00.

#4 SEWARD COUNTY/GARDEN CITY BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/wbkb/2016-17/boxscores/20170227_vkzq.xml?view=boxscore>

Roy Allen