Playing without six suspended players, the Seward County Saints battled the Hutchinson Blue Dragons Saturday night in the Green House.  Seward even took a lead early in the second half but succumbed to the #7 ranked and first place Blue Dragons 81-66.

Seward played without  Erik Pratt, Ahamadou Sillah, Julian McGowan, Jaylin Henderson, and KD Arnett.  They were suspended and did not play.  But the Saints showed fight early.  Hutch went up 18-13 but the Saints tied the game at 22-22 after a Bee McCrary three point play.  The Blue Dragons led 41-37 at the half.  Malachi McReed’s electrifying one handed dunk pulled the Saints to within two at 43-41.  Seward took a 44-43 lead early in the second half.  Hutch used a 12-1 run to take back control of the game at 55-45.  They held the Saints at arm’s length the rest of the night.

Seward got bullied on the boards 44-32.  The Saints especially struggled to pull down defensive rebounds as Hutchinson grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.  Seward shot 46 percent but was only 1-11 from three point range.  Seward also committed 23 turnovers.  Hutch shot 38 percent from the field.

Hutch wins their fifth straight against Seward counting last year’s forfeit.  Seward is 7-9 overall and 4-6 in the Jayhawk.  Hutchinson is 16-1 overall and 10-1 in the KJCCC.  Seward plays Monday night at Dodge City at 7 with Saints Shoot-around at 6:45 on 107.5 and the KSCB and The Legend App.