Somehow Saints March On

Bryan ZollHinger couldn’t believe it. Well into KSCB’s postgame show, he still couldn’t believe his team won. How could they have won. They shot under 33 percent from the field. They were out-rebounded 54-42 and the Tigers had 23 offensive rebounds. Seward, who used an eight man rotation fought foul trouble all day and had four players in foul trouble most of the second half. Marky Nolen fouled out. The Saints trailed by as many at 12 (35-23) in the first half and 11 in the second half (52-41) with over 12 minutes to play. But the Saint defense stood tall late in the game and amassed 12 steals in the game compared to Cowley’s one and won the game 71-67 in the semifinals of the Region 6 Tournament Sunday evening at Koch Arena in Wichita. Seward tied the game with 9:50 to play and took the lead 56-55 with 9:10 to play. Seward led by four twice (65-61 with 4:34 to play and 67-63). Seward made key stops during the closing minute of the game with a 69-67 lead. A Jeremy Jones rebound with .7 left would all but wrap things up for the Saints who make their second appearance in four years to the Region 6 championship game. Jones fought through an off shooting night (7-18) for 29 points and five steals. Rafriel Guthrie scored 17 and paced Seward through a dreadful first half in which the Saints only made seven field goals but only trailed 37-32 thanks in large part to Guthrie ability to get to the free throw line. Daveon Boardingham came of age with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Eleven of those rebounds came during a pivotal stretch of the second half with teammates on the bench in foul trouble. This marks the second straight season Seward eliminates Cowley (25-8) from the tournament. The 27-6 Saints play Jayhawk East champ Coffeyville at 8 p.m. Monday night on B107.5 and kscbnews.net. The Red Ravens outlasted Hutchinson 68-58.