The Saints fought back but fell 86-75 to the Blue Dragons

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Seward County Community College fell to Hutchinson Community College 86-75 on Saturday night. The Saints trailed 56-39 in the second half, went on a 19-5 run to get within three points 61-58, and could not complete the comeback. Seward County will return home to take on Coffeyville Community College on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT. 

Jaylin Henderson led the Saints with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Mario Whitley provided 10 points and nine rebounds in just 14 minutes of action. Wilson Dubinsky had 10 points, Kole Scott had eight points, and Daeyon James added eight.

The first half was a back-and-forward affair as the Saints held an early 8-7 lead after a Mario Whitley layup. The Blue Dragons took a 15-10 lead at the thirteen-minute mark, and the Saints responded with a 5-0 run to get the game tied at 15-15. A pair of Hutchinson free throws gave them a 24-17 advantage, and the Saints responded with a 6-0 run to trail 24-23. 

The battle continued in the Hutchinson Sports Arena as the Saints' Niko Smith connected on a layup to cut the Blue Dragon lead down to three, 32-29. Seward County went into halftime down 37-32 to Hutchinson after a Mario Whitley basket at the buzzer to end the first half.

In the first five minutes of the second half, the Blue Dragons went on a 12-1 run to take a 49-33 advantage over the Saints. Hutchinson's hot shooting continued as the Blue Dragons held a 56-39 lead over Seward County with 13:09 left in the contest. The Saints responded with a strong defense that turned into offense to go on a 19-5 run to trail the Blue Dragons 61-58 at the eight-minute mark.

With five minutes left in the contest, the Saints faced a 76-59 deficit after a Blue Dragon 15-1 run gave them a significant lead once again. Jaylin Henderson connected on a mid-range jump shot to get the Saints back within 10, 81-71, under a minute to go. The Saints could not overcome the Blue Dragons' late surge and fell 86-75. 

Seward County will look to bounce back on Wednesday night in the Greenhouse against the Red Ravens from Coffeyville at 8 p.m. CT.