Saints Split Against WJCAC Foes

The #15 Seward County Saints continued a tough early season schedule this weekend in Levelland, Texas, taking on a pair of WJCAC opponents in #3 South Plains and New Mexico Military Institute.  Friday against the host Texans, the Saints hung around most of the game, but a 34-19 disparity on the glass eventually did them in in a 82-68 loss to the NJCAA's 3^rd ranked team.  In a quick turnaround Saturday, the Saints built up a 14 point first half lead and did just enough to hang on late in a 68-62 win over NMMI to move to 3-5 on the year. 

In their first game of the classic against the hosts, #3 South Plains, the Saints went toe to toe with the team who won the NJCAA National Tournament the last two times that Seward was there in 2008 and 2012.  It was an 11-10 game six minutes in and South Plains only managed two more points of cushion in the next 10 minutes as it was a 25-22 game with 6:37 to go in the first half.  The Texans were finally able to open up the lead, going in front 40-24, but Seward got back to within reaching distance before the half at 44-32. 

The Saints played even with the Texans through the first 10 minutes of the second half, but still found themselves down 58-41.  Seward hit a stretch where it was one shot and out while South Plains pounded the glass on both ends of the floor to open up their advantage to 73-56 with under 5:00 to go.  Seward fought to the final whistle, but in the end, it was too much South Plains for the Saints as the Texans went on to win 82-68. 

The difference in the ballgame came in the rebounding compartment where South Plains outrebounded the Saints 34-19 including a 14-2 advantage on the offensive glass.  In the game the Texans managed 22 more field goals than the Saints, using that to their advantage as Seward shot above 50% from the floor for the second straight game.  Kevin Sims led Seward with 17 points in the loss while Jamal Poplar had 13 and Tykwan Garner added 11 off the Saints bench. 

#15 SEWARD COUNTY/#3 SOUTH PLAINS BOX SCORE

In an unusually quick turnaround, the Saints hit the court at 12:00 Saturday afternoon against New Mexico Military, just 14 hours after the completion of their game against #3 South Plains Friday night.  The start time didn't seem to effect the Saints who immediately jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the Broncos and took a 15-12 lead to the midway point of the first half.  Seward extended their lead to 25-16 with under 5:00 to go in the period.  The Saints continued to tack on to their lead and after a dominating final 7:00 of the half, took a 40-26 lead to the break at half. 

The Saints pushed their lead to 18 early in the second half, but New Mexico Military didn't roll over, using an 11-2 run to cut the Saints cushion to single digits at 49-40 just three minutes later.  It was an eight point game at the midway point of the second half and it remained that way as the clock ticked under 7:00 to play.  It was a slugfest from there as neither team was able to get much going, but the Saints connected just enough to keep the Broncos from getting too close in the final minutes.  Seward eventually hung on to win 68-62, finishing a six game stretch against WJCAC opponents at an even 3-3.

Jamal Poplar led the Saints attack with 24 points and 7 rebounds in the win while Sims added 14 for Seward in the winning effort. 

Seward moves to 3-5 on the year with the split while New Mexico Military drops to 4-6. 

The Saints will be on the road for another long trip this weekend as they make the 1,000+ mile trip to Southwestern Arizona to participate in the Matador Classic on the campus of Arizona Western on Friday and Saturday.  Friday the Saints will do battle with Eastern Arizona followed by a Saturday night date with the home team, Arizona Western. 

#15 SEWARD COUNTY/NEW MEXICO MILITARY BOX SCORE