February 19, 2006
SEWARD COUNTY SAINTS HOLD ON TO WIN AGAINST GARDEN CITY
It was a classic down to the wire Jayhawk West Conference rivalry last night, as the Seward County Community College men’s basketball team held on to a tough victory on the road at Garden City Community College 73-70, at the Perryman Center . The SCCC Saints (20-7, 6-7) pick up their third win in a row and their second win this season over the GCCC Broncbusters (16-10, 5-8). Seward County moves into a tie for fifth-place in the Jayhawk West, while pre-season No. 1 picked (KJCCC coaches’ poll) Garden City falls into seventh-place in the Western Division.

The Saints had strong control of the game in the first period, taking leads of nine-points several times throughout the first 20 minutes of the game. At half-time it was the Saints who led 31-26 over GCCC.

In the second-half, both teams matched each other basket for basket for most of the final period. Garden City was able to tie the game 54-54, with 8:50 remaining in the game.

Michael Tyree

Saints starting guard and three-point specialist, Michael Tyree hit a key three-point bucket to put the Saints ahead 66-60 with 2:00 left in the game.

Garden City answered right back with a three-point basket from their sophomore standout, Roy Bright, who the Saints couldn’t find a way to contain for most of the night.

With: 34 seconds remaining in the game and SCCC leading 68-66, reserve point guard Jerrell Green was called for a charging foul on an attempted lay-up. On the next GCCC possession, Broncbuster point guard, D.J. Dawson was fouled and had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line. Dawson came up short making just one shot attempt and cutting the Saints lead to 68-67.

In the final 16 seconds of the game, the Saints uncharacteristically put the game away at the free-throw line, connecting on 5-of-6 in the remaining seconds of the game.

Keith Spencer

Saints sophomore forward, Keith Spencer shined Saturday night making a career-high 7-for-9 free throws. Entering Saturday night, Spencer was shooting 42 percent from the charity stripe (10-for-24) in road contests against Jayhawk West Conference opponents.

Bright was the story of the game as he single-handedly brought Garden City back into the game by scoring a game-high 29 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field, 4-for-7 shooting from three-point range and by grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds.

Bright’s effort was not enough as the Saints were led by Adam Tanner (17 points), Theron Wilson (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Tyree (15 points).

Seward County will host second-place Cloud County Community College (20-7, 9-4) on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Green House. Cloud County ran past SCCC 64-50, earlier this season in Concordia.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday night. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites and the Southwest Daily Times are the buy-out sponsor. FREE tickets for Wednesday night can be picked up at either location throughout the week.

BOX SCORE:
Seward County 73 at. Garden City C.C. 70 (Garden City, Kansas)