By CHARLES SPURLOCK
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys basketball faced Piper Tuesday night in a United Kansas Conference matchup, with the Vikings rallying down the stretch for a 76-74 win at Seaman.
Sophomore KaeVon Bonner (13) scored 27 points, including the game-winning free throws, in Seaman's 76-74 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
In an offensive shootout, the first half was a back-and-forth affair with Seaman leading 43-42 at the break. Sophomore KaeVon Bonner led the Vikings with 12 first-half points and junior Bryer Finley had 11. Piper was led by PJ Moore with 12 and Lantz Walton with nine.
The shootout continued in the third quarter, with Piper outscoring the Vikings 25-18 to take a 67-61 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We were fortunate, but give our guys credit for hanging in there,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said. "When they (the Pirates) got hot in the third quarter, it could have gotten away from us, but we had some poise, hung in there, battled back and made some big shots and free throws.”
In the fourth quarter Seaman’s defense tightened and only allowed Piper to score seven points. With a little over four minutes left in the game, Piper led 74-68, but went scoreless for the remainder of the game.
The Vikings tied the game at 74 with about two minutes left. After exchanging empty possessions, Bonner was fouled with 12 seconds left and made both free throws. Piper attempted a 3-point shot at the buzzer that fell short.
“We stepped up defensively and it was a good team win,” Cox said.
Seaman was led by Bonner with 27 points, followed by B. Finley with 20 and senior Holden Finley 12. B. Finley also pulled down eight rebounds. Piper was led by Walton with 20, while Moore and Derrick Jackson tallied 16 apiece and Devin Kerr chipped in with 10 points.
The Vikings will travel to DeSoto on Friday night for their final game before the Christmas break.
SEAMAN BOYS 76, PIPER 74
Piper 24 18 25 7 -- 74
Seaman 17 26 18 15 -- 76
Piper (2-1) -- Walton 7-11 2-2 20, Moore 7-12 1-3 16, Vogel 0-1 0-0 0, Brooks 3-4 1-3 7, Kerr 5-10 0-0 10, Jackson 6-9 0-0 15, Thomas 1-5 1-2 3, Davis 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-53 5-10 74.
Seaman (2-1) -- B. Finley 9-16 0-1 20, H. Finley 5-8 0-0 12, Wiltz 1-3 0-0 2, Phillips 3-6 0-0 7, Bonner 7-15 9-10 27, Chapman 1-3 0-0 2, Unruh 2-6 0-0 6. Totals 28-57 9-11 76.
3-point goals - Piper 9 (Walton 4, Jackson 4, Moore), Seaman 11 (Bonner 4, B. Finley 2, H. Finley 2, Unruh 2, Phillips). Total Fouls -- Piper 15, Seaman 8. Fouled out - none.
