February 22, 2006
SAINTS LOSE KEY JAYHAWK WEST GAME TO CLOUD COUNTY
The Seward County Community College men’s basketball team needed to keep doing what they have been doing lately, win big games. The Saints looked to have the formula to keep their three-game win streak alive but a late surge by the Cloud County Community College men’s basketball team kept the Saints from winning their 12th game at home this season. The Thunderbirds defeated the Saints 69-65, at the Green House in Liberal, to drop the Saints to 6-8 in the Jayhawk West (20-8 overall) and Cloud County jumps to 10-4 in conference play and 21-7 overall.

The Saints looked sharp in the first-half coming back from an early 12-4 deficit, to take a 42-34 half-time lead. The Saints dominated in the first-half primarily because they shot a notable 55 percent from the field (17-for-31) while holding Cloud County to 42 percent (14-for-33) shooting in the first-half.

The Saints took the lead from Cloud County with 5:38 left in the first half when the score was 26-25. Seward County held that lead into the second half until Cloud County took the lead for only a brief moment at 47-45 with 13:52 remaining in the game. On the next offensive possession the Saints regained the lead 48-47, and once again took control of the game until there was just 1:15 left in the game.

At that point the Thunderbirds came roaring back to take the lead 66-65, and would never trail again as Seward County forced several shots in the final minute and Cloud County held on to the victory on the road at the Green House.

The game was completely reversed in the second-half as Cloud County shot 56 percent (14-for-25) and the Saints shot a meager 27 percent (7-for-26) from the field.

Cloud County did survive a rough night at the free-throw line shooting just 45 percent from the charity stripe (9-for-20).

Seward County was led by Adam Tanner (15 points and 15 rebounds), Jerrell Green (12 points, five assists and four steals) and Theron Wilson (11 points, four steals and three rebounds).

The Thunderbirds were led by Cassin Diggs (13 points), Reed Hein (12 points, 4-for-9 three-point field goals), Geremey Gibson (10 points and seven rebounds) and James Williams (10 points and five rebounds).

The Saints will have just one remaining game that will count for the Region VI play-off standings as they host Hutchinson Community College on Wednesday, March 1. SCCC finishes their regular season at Barton County Community College on Saturday, March 4, but since Barton County is ineligible from the post-season, the Saints final game against the Cougars will not count in the Region VI standings.

The Saints final regular season home game (March 1) is also SCCC Sophomore Recognition Night at the Green House. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. against the Blue Dragons and the buy-out sponsor for Wednesday night is Sharp, McQueen, McKinley, McQueen & Dodge P.A.

BOX SCORE:
Cloud County 69 at. Seward County 65 (Liberal, Kansas)