Big Second Half Leads Saints to Win

On election night in America, the results from the first half of the Seward County Saints game against the Frank Phillips Plainsmen Tuesday night in the Greenhouse left many indecisive, but after a 49 point second half, the results turned the polls green as Seward raced past Frank 78-68 to pick up their third win in their final non-conference contest of 2016.

Play was sloppy on the offensive end for both sides early on as five minutes into the contest the score was just 4-4 between the Saints and Plainsmen. Seward scored the next six, including four straight from big man Martavious Wilson to take a 10-4 advantage and after a Frank bucket stopped the Saints initial run, Seward scored eight more in a row, this time behind the inside play of Spencer Franklin to go in front 18-6 with 11:15 remaining in the first half. Seward looked in control, up 20-9 at the first half media timeout, but the Saints went ice cold for the final 8:25 of the half as Frank Philips roared back, outscoring Seward 18-5 to close out the half to take a 31-29 lead into the break at half.

The Saints shot just 26% in the first half and were just 1 for 11 from the three point line in the period. The Plainsmen dominated the glass with a 31-18 first half advantage, but Seward did force 14 first half Frank turnovers while committing just six of their own.

Baskets were again few and far in-between early in the second half for the Saints, as they scored just seven points in the first 5:45 of the period, however, it was enough to find themselves deadlocked with the Plainsmen at 36 with 14:15 to go in the game. A big three from Malik Brown broke the tie and spurred the Saints on a 15-6 run over the next five plus minutes to put Seward in front 51-42. The Saints never looked back again. Seward stretched their lead to double digits on a steal and run out from Charles Beauregard and took a 15 point lead moments later on back to back hoops from the sophomore. Frank got back to within eight with just under four minutes remaining, but that was as close as they would get as Kevin Sims cashed in on seven free throws in the final two minutes of the contest to salt away a 78-68 win to send the Saints faithful home happy.

The Saints shot 56% in the second half after the slow start to finish the night at a respectable 39% overall. Seward was crushed on the glass with the Plainsmen exiting with a 53-38 advantage, but the Saints forced 27 Frank Phillips turnovers, turning them into 24 points in the 10 point victory. Beauregard led the Saints with 21 points and six steals in the victory while Sims shook off a tough shooting night to finish with 17.

Seward improves to 3-1 on the year with the victory while Frank Phillips drops their second game to a Jayhawk Conference foe to drop to 2-2.

The Saints will now look to ramp things up for Saturday night when they welcome the defending Jayhawk Conference Champions to town when the Hutchinson Blue Dragons come knocking on the Greenhouse door for an 8:00 tip. Free tickets are available courtesy of our buyout sponsors Billy’s/AYR Lanes and Days Inn at their Liberal locations.

SEWARD COUNTY/FRANK PHILLIPS BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/boxscores/20161108_r580.xml?view=boxscore>

Roy Allen