Region VI first round exit for the Saints at Independence 84-74

INDEPENDENCE, Kan.- Seward County Community college men's basketball team falls on the road in the first round of the Region VI Tournament at Independence 84-74 and ends the season with a 17-14 record. The Saints could not slow down the Pirates' efficient offense as Independence shot 50% from the field, and 55% from behind the three-point line. This is the earliest exit in the Region VI tournament for the Saints since the 2016-17 season.

In the first half, the Saints came out and went step for step with the Pirates. Seward kept within eight points of Independence for the entire first half. The Saints shot 52% from the field and made 4-8 from behind the three-point line but trailed the Pirates 38-36 after the first half.

In the second half, the Saints could not duplicate their hot shooting from the first half and Independence caught fire in the second half. The Pirates shot 61% from the field in the second half and went 10-12 from behind the three-point line. Demetric Horton for Independence connected on six out of nine three-pointers and went on to have the game-high 23 points.

With the hot shooting by the Pirates, the Saints were unable to catch up to the Pirates in the second half and they were outscored 46-38. The Saints went 4-14 from three-point range and shot just 28% from the field in the final half.

Independence had four players in double digits that included Horton. Terry Collins Jr. added 20 points, Tim Dalger and Jaden McClanahan each had 13 points.

The Saints were paced by Roy Clarke with 12 points and three rebounds. Rostyslav Novitskyi added 11 points, Kyle Cardaci and Greg Johnson both had 10 points.

Seward County ends the season with a 17-14 record overall and will look to turn the page into offseason preparations.