Jay Daubenberger
Seward County Lady Saints basketball hit the road out east to take on one of their top rivals in the Jayhawk conference over the past few years in the #6 Hutchinson Blue Dragons where despite remaining within reach through much of the game, the Lady Saints were unable to extinguish the Blue Dragons’ undefeated flame as they fell 69-53 on the road. HCC out scored Seward 26-16 in the fourth quarter.
It was a defensive battle throughout the first quarter with both teams struggling to lift the lid off the rim after a banked in three by Xoe Rosalez put SCCC ahead 3-2 in the opening minute of the first quarter. Allie Myers continued to show why she is one of the best rebounders in the NJCAA, hauling in an offensive rebound that led to an easy two points to keep the Lady Saints’ lead alive 7-6 before the first media timeout but Hutchinson was able to climb back in front late in the quarter to push in front 11-9 after the first ten minutes of action.
Rosalez opened the second quarter guns blazing with her second made three of the afternoon to briefly retake the lead 12-11 and a few possessions later she knocked down her third three to bring cut Hutchinson’s advantage down to three at 18-15. It was raining threes for the Lady Saints in the second quarter as Jamia Carter shook her defender at the top of the arc and splashed in her first three-pointer to put the score at 19-18 midway through the quarter. It looked to be an even matchup through the first fifteen minutes but the final five of the second quarter was all Blue Dragons who went on an 11-2 run before halftime with SCCC’s points coming off a fast break score from Rosalez to go into the break down 30-20.
Hutchinson had pushed their lead out to double digits but Seward County was able to answer back and keep the Blue Dragons within reach as Kayla Peoples sunk in another SCCC three-pointer to stay within ten at 36-25 that helped create a 13-1 run for the Lady Saints with a steal by Myers leading to a fastbreak score for Ari Gordon and a driving layup by Carter put the score at 37-35. Another offensive rebound turned easy layup for Myers put Seward County’s total at 37 where they would stay heading into the final quarter down by six with Hutchinson leading 43-37.
Seward County managed to cut the Blue Dragons’ lead down to six, but the fourth quarter was all Hutchinson as they stormed out in front and SCCC was never able to recover. Myers was able to score an easy layup in the paint off an assist by Biyyanah Ellis to put cut the deficit to 47-39 and Ari Gordon knocked down a turnaround jumper for the Lady Saints to put them over the 40-point mark while the Blue Dragons continued to increase their lead. Carter cashed in her second three of the game to put the score at 60-48 but it couldn’t help Seward County come back as they fell to Hutchinson 69-53 on the road.
Carter led all scorers on the afternoon with 20 points to go with 7 rebounds while Rosalez added on 14 points of her own and Myers recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Seward County now falls to 7-8 on the 2023-24 season with a conference record of 3-6 in the KJCCC. They will return home for two straight games inside of the Green House when they take on the Colby Trojans on Saturday at 4:00 PM. Saints Shoot-around at 3:45 on 107.5. Pizza Hut is the buyout sponsor.
