IBy RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Maddie Gragg was forced to sit and watch from the sidelines when the Vikings dropped a six-point decision at Shawnee Heights last Feb. 20, which just so happened to be Seaman's most recent loss.
Junior Maddie Gragg scored 23 points with five 3-pointers in Seaman's 64-54 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Anna Becker scored 21 points with three 3-pointers in Seaman's 64-54 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
But the 5-foot-10 junior made up for lost time in a hurry in Tuesday's rematch against the T-Birds, riding a monster first half to a game-high 23 points as the defending Class 5A state champions ran their winning streak to 22 games with a 64-54 home United Kansas Conference victory.
Gragg scored 17 points in the first half with five 3-pointers and formed a dynamic one-two punch with senior Anna Becker, who had 14 first-half points with a pair of 3s on the way to a 21-point night as the Vikings took control in the opening two quarters while improving to 16-0 overall and 11-0 in the conference.
Gragg said Tuesday's win was a welcome bounce back for her and the team after last year's Heights loss.
"I had a concussion, so I didn't play that game,'' Gragg said. "I was there sitting on the bench and I remember that game. The first half was good (tonight). It was high percentage shots and we kept going for like the one more pass. It was just a good half all around. You always want to beat a rival.''
Shawnee Heights (11-5 overall, 8-4) actually outscored Seaman 30-23 in the second half, but the T-Birds were unable to overcome a dismal first half that saw the Vikings lead by as many as 20 points on the way to a 41-24 halftime bulge.
"Obviously we knew what happened last year, it was in the back of our minds,'' Becker said. "We didn't forget.''
Gragg and Becker combined for 12 of Seaman's 16 first-half field goals, including the seven treys, as the Vikings shot 53.3 percent from the field in the half.
"It felt like we were shooting the ball great,'' Becker said. "Shoot, I think Maddie went 5 for 5 (on 3s) and we were passing it around well, so you can't ask for much more than that. It was a great team win and I just love that we got to play another inter-city school. It's always a fun rivalry and a game to look forward to.''
Seaman coach Matt Tinsley agreed that the first half was the key to the game.
"We played a great first half,'' Tinsley said. "We were moving the ball and we didn't take a bad shot I felt like in the first half and everybody was hitting. Anna hit a couple to get us going and then Maddie hit five 3s and the girls recognized that, they knew she had a hot hand. That was a great start.
"That's a rivalry game, we were up for it and obviously it's crunch time. Coming down to the end of the year we've got to continue to build, got to stay hungry and got to keep getting better.''
Senior Kinley Wilhelm also had a big night for the Vikings, finishing with 12 points.
Sophomore KK Emmot scored 18 points to lead three double-figure scorers for Shawnee Heights while senior Kaydence Torrez added 13 points and junior Reianna Vega 12.
SEAMAN GIRLS 64, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 54
Shawnee Heights 15 9 14 16 -- 54
Seaman 21 20 14 9 -- 64
Shawnee Heights (11-5, 8-4) – Emmot 6-14 4-4 18, Brees 0-5 1-2 1, Bowers 3-8 0-0 6, Torrez 5-10 3-4 13, Vega 4-17 4-4 12, Euwer 0-2 0-0 0, Hanshaw 2-3 0-0 4, Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-60 12-14 54.
Seaman (16-0, 11-0) – Stallbaumer 0-6 0-0 0, Becker 8-15 2-2 21, Wilhelm 5-8 1-2 12, Gragg 9-15 0-0 23, Esser 3-5 2-2 8, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Beaton 0-1 0-0 0, Spencer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 5-6 64.
3-point goals – Shawnee Heights 2 (Emmot 2), Seaman 9 (Gragg 5, Becker 3, Wilhelm). Total fouls – Shawnee Heights 8, Seaman 10. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
