Defense Helps Saints Top Kingdom Prep

Following yet another last second loss on Friday, the Seward County Saints returned to the court Saturday in Garden City and picked up their second win of the early season, downing Kingdom Prep 72-57 on the final day of the Garden City Pepsi Classic.

It was another slow offensive start for the Saints who found themselves tied at 6 with the prep school from Iowa five minutes into things. Seward finally got things going and took a 24-19 lead into the final minutes of the half and a 32-26 lead at the break. The Saints sunk 11 field goals in the half and shot 46% in the first half after a game in which they managed just 15 the entire night against North Platte a day earlier.

A slow start to the second put the Saints behind the eight ball as Kingdom Prep took a 39-38 lead of their own with 14:12 to go in the game. The Kingdom Prep lead didn’t last long as the Saints recovered and took the lead back with under eight minutes to go at 52-48. The Saints extended their lead to 59-53 into the final minutes of the game and were able to open up the score at the free throw line in the last two to win 72-57.

The Saints allowed just 6 field goals to Kingdom Prep in the second half and allowed them to shoot just 29% in the game. The 57 points scored by Kingdom Prep might have even been a little bit deceiving as to their offensive production in the contest as they were a perfect 17 for 17 from the free throw line in the second half against the Saints. Seward’s offense was the best that it has been all season as they matched a season high with 72 points and shot their best from the field this season, hitting on 41% of their field goals in the game. Niem Stevenson and Tyreke Sharp shared the team lead with 17 points while Brian Bridgeforth notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Saints improve to 2-2 on the year and will see their road get even tougher next weekend as they host Midland and #9 South Plains in the Greenhouse Friday and Saturday in the Billy’s/Days Inn Classic.