By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Anna Becker’s 18-point second half was the key component of Seaman’s 47-41 home Centennial League victory over Emporia Friday night.
Becker, who finished with a game-high 20 points, put herself in multiple situations to be free-throw line-bound in the second half tne the freshman standout went a perfect 7 of 7 from the charity stripe.
Seaman Anna Becker, who scored a game-high 20 points, goes up for a shot in the Vikings' 47-41 Centennial League win over Emporia Friday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“We spent a lot of time on our free throws yesterday,” Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. “We had a drill where we would shoot free throws for five minutes straight. We did that drill twice. You can shorten the game by being confident stepping up to the line.”
Emporia found itself in many situations where the Spartans were just a basket away from taking a lead. But whenever the Spartans would make a shot, Seaman would answer right back nearly every time.
“Emporia is so tough,” Tinsley said. “That Emporia team is so well-coached. Their program mirrors our program in the toughness aspect. We played them 12 times in the last four years. They knew what we were going to do and we knew what they were going to do.
“It makes these games that much tougher.”
While Friday night’s contest final score ended up with 88 combined points, the two teams would only muster five points apiece before the first quarter ended.
Seaman would capitalize on the break before the second quarter started.
Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer scored 14 points in Friday' 47-41 Seaman win over Emporia. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Sophomore Taylin Stallbaumer, who finished with 14 points, would hit two quick corner 3-point shots and Emporia called a time out before the momentum rode with the Lady Vikings.
“Things were working well for all of us in the (second) quarter,” Stallbaumer said. “Our shots weren’t falling as fast as we wanted them to, but when the shots did fall, it gave us more confidence as the game went on.”
While Seaman’s second quarter was much improved from the first, Emporia’s shots wouldn’t fall. Emporia recorded five points again in the second quarter.
Gracie Gilpin was responsible for the Lady Spartans' entire offensive production in the first half. The senior had all of the Lady Spartans' first-half points with 10.
Coming out of the halftime break, Emporia flipped the switch and got hot.
Emporia’s bench was the catalyst in their 19-point third quarter. Addie Kirmer and Rylee Peak were hitting shots with ease, recording 12 by the end of the quarter. Emporia was within one point before the third period ended.
The fourth quarter would be dictated by Becker and Stallbaumer’s fourth-quarter efforts with 15 points from the youthful backcourt duo too much for Emporia to handle in the end.
“The girls just believe in each other,” Tinsley said. “They believe in our program and they are completely bought in on what we are trying to do here. Our girls want to accomplish something special. There are no egos on this team. They care about their teammates and success. When you have all of that, you can be extremely successful.
“We want to practice like we’ve never won and we want to play as we’ve never lost.”
It hasn’t been an easy stretch of games lately for the Lady Vikings. Seaman has defeated a Kansas state-ranked opponent three out of their last four contests (Topeka High, Lansing and Emporia).
“We have been playing really well together,” Stallbaumer said. “We are playing better on our defense and it’s already a big strength of ours. We have kept the good defense going. We have changed some things in our offense. We started moving the ball around better and involving our posts more.”
“The changes have been a big part of our success lately.”
Seaman (15-5, 13-4) will take the court again in a Class 5A sub-state contest. Pairings will be announced Saturday.
SEAMAN GIRLS 47, EMPORIA 41
Emporia 5 5 19 12 – 41
Seaman 5 13 12 17 – 47
Seaman (15-5, 13-4) – Schumann 0 0-0 0, Stallbaumer 3 5-6 14, Becker 6 7-7 20, Gormley 1 2-3 4, Stuewe 0 0-0 0, Wilhelm 1 0-0 3, Esser 2 0-2 4, Mills 0 2-4 2.
Emporia (15-5, 11-5) – Gilpin 7 0-2 16, Stewart 0 0-0 0, Baker 1 0-0 3, Shivley 0 0-0 0, Snyder 1 1-1 3, Kirmer 5 4-4 15, Peak 1 2-4 4.
3-point goals – Seaman 5 (Stallbaumer 3, Becker, Wilhelm), Emporia 4 (Gilpin 2, Kirmer, Baker). Team fouls – Seaman 15, Emporia 23. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
