By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Seaman's girls baketball team hadn’t played a basketball game in two weeks due to COVID-19 issues within the Centennial League, but the freshness of the Lady Vikes was on full display Tuesday night in a 55-18 home league win over Junction City.
The same two teams opened up the 2021-2022 season against each other back on Dec. 3, with Seaman would win by an eye-opening 50 points as the backcourt duo of freshman Anna Becker and sophomore Taylin Staullbaumer combined for 29 points in the 69-12 rout.
In Tuesday night’s game the unsung heroes from the bench created the most impact for the Vikings. Seaman’s bench was responsible for 51 percent of the team’s points with 28 on the night.
Leading the bench were Maegan Mills and Lindsey Smith, who both scored 10 points.
“It was their night,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "They (Seaman’s bench) stepped up for us tonight. I tell them to always have their head in the game. You never know when they will be needed. They gave us a good spark and lift.''
In the opening quarter, Seaman would get off to a bit of a slow start, holding a 3-2 lead at the 4:17 mark of the first quarter.
A time out called by Seaman created a spark the Lady Vikes needed with the bench putting up six quick points.
Becker and Stallbaumer would have seven points combined in the first quarter as Seaman found its groove, ending the quarter on a 14-2 run.
“I felt like in the first (quarter) we relied on just passing the ball once before we scored. That’s not our offense. We have to go side-top-side with the ball,” said Tinsley.
Seaman would jump out in front with a 19-point lead at halftime. Contributing to the large lead was a collective group effort as seven different Lady Vikes would score the basketball.
The third quarter would be the most eye-opening for the Lady Vikes. Seaman created the most points they had in a quarter during the game, the best defensive effort and noteworthy team chemistry.
Seaman would put up 21 points compared to Junction City’s one point.
With the running clock in the fourth quarter, Tinsley’s staff was able to rest the starting five and key role players.
Going into Friday, the coaching staff believes that they have plenty of good things to carry over as well as some things to work on.
“We need to find the open player a bit better. We need to make sure we are an inside-out team. Other than that, a lot of positives. It feels good to be back out on the court again. It feels like the season-opener,” said Tinsley.
The Lady Vikes (5-3, 5-3) will take on Centennial League rival Topeka West (1-9, 1-8) at Topeka West Friday.
SEAMAN GIRLS 55, JUNCTION CITY 18
Junction City 2 7 1 8 – 18
Seaman 14 14 21 6 – 55
Seaman (5-3, 5-3) – Mills 5 0-0 10, Smith 5 0-0 10, Gormley 3 4-7 10, Stallbaumer 2 2-2 8, Becker 3 0-0 6, Spurlock 2 0-0 4, Esser 1 1-2 3, Schumann 1 0-2 2, Wilhelm 1 0-0 2.
Junction City (2-8, 2-6) – Holloway 3 0-2 6, DeGuzman 1 1-2 3, Rexrode 1 1-2 3, Nabus 1 0-0 2, Harris 1 0-0 2, Cebula 0 2-4 2.
3-point goals – Seaman 2. Total fouls – Seaman 9, Junction City 12.
