By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys basketball team bounced back from a Tuesday night loss Friday on their home floor, with seniors KaeVon Bonner and Landon Wiltz combining for 41 points in the Vikings' 60-43 United Kansas Conference win over Basehor-Linwood.
“It was really nice to see Landon knock down some shots,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said. "As soon as he hit the first his confidence just built and it was game on for him. KaeVon did what he does, goes and gets you baskets. I was really pleased with that part and our defense was outstanding in the first half. To give up just 14 points was very solid.''
Fifteen of the Vikings' first 21 points came from 3-pointers as Wiltz had three threes in the first quarter, helping Seaman build a 15-6 advantage and lead 15-8 after the quarter. Wiltz finished with 15 points.
“Finally started to hit them. I’ve struggled a little bit from three the last couple of games, so seeing one go down actually felt pretty good,” Wiltz said.
Then Bonner caught fire, hitting two 3-pointers back-to-back as the Vikings led 21-10, forcing the Bobcats into a timeout.
Bonner then had a beautiful turnaround jumper fall and followed that up with a one-handed slam off a steal later in the quarter.
Seaman had a 15-point lead heading into halftime, 31-14.
In the third quarter, Bonner helped stretch Seaman’s lead to 20 (37-17) after a slow-moving quarter, but then the Bobcats cut it to 12 (37-25) forcing Cox to call a timeout. Seaman led 41-28 after three.
“When you have a big lead at the half, it’s trying not to give into getting comfortable and relaxed instead of staying focused, making the extra pass, making the better shot,'' Cox said. "We got a little loose with our passing and a little loose with our shot selection, but then they pulled it back together.''
In the fourth, Seaman would not relinquish the lead or let it fall within 10 points.
Senior Griffin Zuniga provided eight points and Bonner scored five straight, increasing the lead back to 18.
The Seaman advantage got to 20 (57-37), tied for its biggest lead of the night, as the Vikings nabbed win number 17.
Wiltz said as the playoffs approach, the Vikings have two things to focus on.
“Value possessions and not turn the ball over. We got to keep our defense up because we’ve been doing pretty well on that,” Wiltz said.
Bonner led all scorers with 26 points.
SEAMAN 69, BASEHOR-LINWOOD 43
Basehor-Linwood 8 6 14 15 – 43
Seaman 15 16 10 19 – 60
Basehor-Linwood (12-10) – Brown 3 3-4 9, Morrison 4 0-0 8, Elliot 1 0-1 2, Hutchinson 1 0-0 3, Young 5 2-2 14, Nixon 2 0-0 5, Peck 1 0-0 2
Seaman (17-4) – Wiltz 6 0-0 15, McConnaughey 1 1-2 3, Zuniga 3 2-2 8, Brain 1 1-2 3, Scholes 1 0-0 3, Esser 1 0-0 2, Bonner 11 0-0 26
3-point goals – Basehor-Linwood 4 (Young 2, Hutchinson 1, Nixon 1), Seaman 8 (Bonner 4, Wiltz 3, Scholes 1). Total fouls – Basehor-Linwood 6, Seaman 10. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
