March 14, 2005
SAINTS END SEASON IN REGION VI QUARTERFINAL
The Seward County Saints season came to an end Sunday evening, as the three-seeded Saints were defeated 75-72 by Neosho County (25-7) in the Quarter Finals of the NJCAA Region VI Tournament, in Salina. The Saints were out rebounded 64-36 by the Panthers and allowed Neosho many second chance opportunities under the basket. Neosho (Jayhawk East third place) will advance to the Region VI Semi Finals tomorrow, facing the back-to-back-to-back Region VI champions Coffeyville C.C.
In the first half the Saints led by five points for the majority of the first 20 minutes of play. The Saints defense forced Neosho to turn the ball over 20 times in the game and the Saints would use those turnovers for many fast break buckets. In the second half, the Saints would increase their lead to as many as eight points, but the Panthers never gave in and controlled the glass as three Neosho players had 10 or more rebounds.
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Keoni Watson
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Brian McCarther
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Saints sophomore Keoni Watson played his final game as a Saint Sunday night. In typical fashion the 5'10" guard led the Saints in scoring with 16 points. This season, Watson led the Saints in scoring 18 times. Watson ends his magnificent Seward County career with 1,145 points, placing him in fifth place all-time in Saints career scoring.
Brian McCarther played a strong game against Neosho scoring 14 points and added eight rebounds. McCarther finished this sophomore campaign averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Freshmen Raynard Sawyer and Preston Sims scored 10 points and 11 points respectively. Saints sophomore point guard Kyle Smith ended his career at Seward County with seven points. In his two seasons at SCCC, Smith finished with 84 career 3-point field goals. Smith ranks eighth all-time in career 3-point buckets.
The Saints also struggled from behind the three-point line shooting 2-for-19 (.111 %) for the night. Watson and Smith were the only Saints to make a three-point bucket.
The Saints finish the 2004-2005 season with a 23-9 overall record and head coach Dave Brown capped off another 20 win season, making it seven years in his nine as Saints head coach winning at least 20 games.
NOTES: The men's Region VI semi-finals on Tuesday will feature Garden City vs. Pratt (5:00 p.m.) and Neosho County vs. Coffeyville (7:00 p.m.).
BOX SCORE vs Neosho County Community College
