Saints Defense Provides Little Resistance as Slide Continues

Seward County Head Coach Bryan Zollinger has been preaching toughness and grit through his team's recent struggles down the stretch in Jayhawk Conference play but yet again Saturday afternoon in Dodge City, he saw little of that as the Saints gave up 46 first half points and couldn't slow the Conquistadors down enough in the second half to prevent their sixth loss in seven games to assure themselves of back to back losing conference records for the first time in 10 seasons. 

Things actually got off to a good start on Saturday for the Saints as Delano Jones nailed two quick threes and Niem Stevenson scored six quick points to stake Seward out to a 12-4 lead to get things going.  But the Saints lead went away quickly as Dodge City tied the game and eventually took a lead of their own later in the half at 30-28.  Seward's deficit quickly grew to nine at 39-30 and reached double digits before a three point play by Charles Beauregard made it a 46-39 game at the half in favor of Dodge. 

Seward shot 50% in the first half, but allowed Dodge City to do the same while the Conqs hit on 8 of 17 from beyond the arc for the seven point advantage.  Stevenson led all scorers with 18 first half points on 8 of 12 shooting. 

Early in the second half, the Saints clawed their way back to within two at 48-46 as Mitchell Packard rimmed in a fade away 10 footer with 17:40 remaining on the clock.  The Saints took their first lead since the midway point of the first as Matthew Lewis squeaked free for a layup with 14:56 to go to put Seward up one, 51-50.  Seward stretched that lead to six moments later and held the cushion until a 10-0 Dodge City run put the Conqs back in front 68-63 with 9:06 left.  Jones was fouled attempting a three pointer to get the Saints back to within two, but that was as close as they would get from there.  Seward simply could not slow down the dribble penetration of the Conquistadors and even if they did, second chances continued to pop up for Dodge as the Saints remained at arm's length until Jones popped another three with 1:10 to go to make it an 85-81 game.  On the ensuing Dodge City possession, the Conqs went to their double-double machine Josh Boutte who finished for two at the rim and that was all she wrote for Seward who didn't make another field goal in the final minute as they went down 88-83. 

Dodge finished the game shooting 52% from the field while the Saints shot 43% overall.  It marked the Saints sixth straight loss while scoring 77 points or more.  Stevenson led the Saints with a 31 point, 11 rebound game while Jones was 4-10 from the three point line and finished with 17. 

Seward falls to 18-11 on the year with the loss and is now 8-10 in Jayhawk Conference play after a 7-4 start.  Dodge City continues to play well, improving to 21-8 on the year and 12-6 in conference action. 

The Saints wrap up the regular season at home on Monday as they take on the Colby Trojans for the second time in seven days in the Greenhouse at 8:00.  It is sophomore night with the Saints four sophomores being recognized prior to the game.  Free tickets are available courtesy of our buyout sponsor Sharp, McQueen, PA at their Liberal offices or at Pizza Hut and Hutch's in North Liberal. 

SEWARD COUNTY/DODGE CITY BOX SCORE