By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
In the first of three games this week to close out the regular season, the top-ranked team in Class 5A, the Seaman Lady Vikings faced the Leavenworth Pioneers Tuesday night.
Seaman senior Anna Becker (23) led the way with 18 points in Tuesday's 54-29 UKC win over Leavenworth. [File photo/TSN]
The Lady Vikings were dominant on defense and efficient on offense, taking control from the opening tip and winning the United Kansas Conference game going away, 54-29.
"I love watching us play,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "We work well together and we were sound on both ends of the floor for a majority of the game. Our defense was solid in the first half.”
Seaman started the game on an 8-0 run over the first five minutes, led by senior Anna Becker’s five points. Leavenworth scored their first and only two baskets in the final 1:25 of the quarter and Seaman led, 16-4.
The second quarter saw the Lady Pioneers almost double their offensive output, but the Lady Vikes were still able to force nine turnovers and extend their lead to 34-11 at the half.
Seaman came out of the locker room after halftime and shot 8-15 from the field to extend their lead to 52-18 and the running clock was in effect for the final stanza. Tinsley complimented his team’s play in the third quarter, “Our offense in the third quarter was efficient. Our emphasis in practice on Monday was on ball movement and shot selection. When we have at least five passes and player movement, we will have great shots.”
The Lady Vikes emptied the bench for the majority of the fourth quarter, which included a standing ovation for the four seniors on the squad -- Anna Becker, Ava Esser, Jaida Stallbaumer and Kinley Wilhelm. Seaman pushed its record to 18-0 with Tuesday's victory. “It was good to get a lot of players into the game. We need to rest and re-focus for our game tomorrow against Piper,” Tinsley said.
The Lady Vikes were led by two girls in double figures. Becker scored 18 points, followed by junior Maddie Gragg with 12 points. Gragg also led Seaman with seven rebounds.
The Pioneers were led by freshman Mya Huewitt with 13 points.
Seaman will have a quick turnaround and host Piper on Wednesday night and finish the season on Friday night at Shawnee Heights.
Seaman Girls 54, Leavenworth 29
Leavenworth 4 7 7 11 29
Seaman 16 18 18 2 54
Leavenworth (6-12, 5-9) -- Garrett 1-4 0-2 3, Sherman 0-2 0-0 0, Walker 2-4 2-2 6, Brown 1-7 0-0 2, Bagosbah 1-1 0-0 2, Graham 0-0 0-0 0, McIntyre 0-0 0-0 0, Fanning 1-1 0-0 3, Huewitt 4-11 5-5 13, Little 0-0 0-0 0, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Spencer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 10-31 7-9 29.
Seaman (18-0, 14-0) -- Frickey 0-0 0-0 0, Ketron 0-0 0-0 0, Stallbaumer 1-4 2-2 5, Miller 1-5 1-2 3, Spencer 0-0 1-2 1, Beaton 1-2 0-0 2, Becker 7-13 1-3 18, Wilhelm 3-8 1-2 8, Gragg 5-10 0-0 12, Esser 2-4 1-3 5, Dreher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 7-14 54.
3 point goals -- Leavenworth 2 (Garrett, Fanning); Seaman 7 (Becker 3, Gragg 2, Stallbaumer, Wilhelm). Total Fouls -- Leavenworth 12; Seaman 8. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.
