March 8, 2006
SAINTS ROCKY SEASON ENDS IN FIRST ROUND AT INDEPENDENCE

Adam Tanner

Theron Wilson

Keith Spencer

After starting the season 15-0 and ranked No. 3 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Top 20 poll, the Seward County Community College men’s basketball team saw their disappointing season come to an end Wednesday night. The Saints dropped their First Round Region VI playoff game at No. 10 Independence, 75-58, which dropped the Saints to 21-10 overall for the season.

After finishing their non-conference schedule undefeated and winning their first Jayhawk West Conference game at home against Dodge City , the Saints went into a tailspin finishing the season with a lethargic 6-10 record.

Independence (28-3) advances to the quarterfinals of the Region VI Tournament that begins this weekend in Wichita at the Charles Koch Arena. Independence will face Allen County (15-16) in the quarterfinals at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 12.

The Saints couldn’t contain Independence on the road, struggling to stay within reach in the first-half, trailing 38-28 at half-time.

Seward County shot the basketball well in the first-half hitting 12-of-27 shots (44 %) and shooting 3-for-10 from three-point range.

The Pirates controlled the game on the glass with Independence grabbing 47 rebounds including a game-high 14 rebounds by Cory Abercrombie, who also scored 15 points.

Independence was also led by 6 foot-11 inch, Stanley Billings, who scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Nate Wallace (17 points), Shawn Sabb (10 points) and Abercrombie were all double-figure scorers for Indy.

Saints freshman, Theron Wilson scored 14 points with nine rebounds and sophomore, Keith Spencer, collected a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Saints sophomore, Adam Tanner, played his last game at Seward County , finishing with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Tanner was “Mr. Consistent” at SCCC for two-seasons, helping the Saints to a 44-19 record during his two-years at SCCC. Tanner’s career averages at Seward County in 63 games played are 13.2 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, .537 % field goal shooter (299-for-557), .719 % free throw shooter (217-for-302) and 29 minutes played per game.

BOX SCORE:
Seward County 58 at. No. 10 Independence 75 (First Round Region VI Playoffs)