March 9, 2005
SAINTS SNEAK BY HIGHLAND IN REGION VI FIRST ROUND
The Seward County Saints finished the regular season ranked second in the Jayhawk West and faced Highland Community College, the seventh seed from the Eastern division in what many would expect to be a run away in the first round of the Region VI basketball tournament. That was hardly the case as Highland put up a serious fight, as the Saints defeated the Scotties 83-81, Wednesday night at the Green House. The top eight teams in both the West and East divisions were in action Wednesday night at the higher seeds campuses. Only the winning teams from the first round will advance to the eight team single elimination tournament that begins Sunday in Salina, Kansas, at the Bi-Centennial Center.
Seward County showed signs of running away with the game leading by 14 points during the second half, but Highland (8-23) wouldn't go away. The player that amazed everyone in attendance Wednesday night had to be Highland sophomore guard Wesley Witt. The 6'1" Witt torched the nets for 41 points on 13-for-24 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. The Saints did however play a solid all-around game scoring 39 points in the first half and 44 in the second half in their first round victory.
The Saints were led by sophomore guard Keoni Watson. The 5'10" San Diego, California, native played his last game in the Green House and went out basically the same way he went about his business for his two years at Seward County. Watson finished with a team high 22 points, three assists and grabbed three steals. Watson finished his home court career at SCCC scoring 616 points, averaging 18.7 points per game in his 33 home games in two seasons at Seward County.
Other Saints to contribute to the first round Region VI win were freshman Adam Tanner (22 points, 9-for-12 Free Throw Line), sophomore Brian McCarther (14 points, four rebounds, 7-for-9 Field Goal), freshman Raynard Sawyer (11 points, 3-for-5 three-point) and freshman Preston Sims (six points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal).
Seward County will advance to the Region VI quarter finals to face Neosho County (24-7), for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off on Sunday March 13, in Salina, Kansas, at the Bi-Centennial Center. The winner between Seward and Neosho will face the winner of the Cloud County Community College/Coffeyville game, March 15, at 7:00 p.m.
NOTES: Other Region VI results: Garden City def. Labette, Hutchinson def. Cowley, Pratt def. Allen County, Butler def. Independence, Neosho County def. Colby, Cloud County def. Kansas City Kansas C.C. and Coffeyville def. Dodge City.
BOX SCORE vs. Highland Community College
