sewardsaints.com
CONCORDIA – The Seward County Lady Saints opened their conference slate on the road at Cloud County for a third straight year, this time with a different result.
Seward (6-1, 1-0 KJCCC) took down the Cloud County T-Birds (4-2, 0-1) 73-71 in Arley Bryant Gymnasium on Wednesday evening, snapping a three-game losing streak in Concordia.
Reigning KJCCC Player of the Week Avery Marchino had a team-high 26 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists to lead the Lady Saints. A'Neya Chambers had 13 points and six rebounds off the bench while Kimora Fagan added 11 points and Destiny Alexander had 10 points, three rebounds and three steals. Grace Posch filled the stat sheet with five points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
Cloud County's Camiah Muldrow had a game-high 33 points while Leila Washington had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The game was tightly contested throughout. Marchino and Chambers hit threes to put Seward ahead 15-9 in the first quarter but Cloud scored the final two buckets and Seward led 15-13 after one.
The second quarter was the highest scoring of the game for both teams with Cloud winning the quarter 24-23. There were six lead change in the quarter. Cloud led 35-30 after a made three from Lauren Marron at the 3:05 mark. A Fagan three, a Chambers layup and a Chambers tip in at the buzzer saw the Lady Saints slip into the locker room with a 38-37 lead.
Cloud's biggest lead of the game came early in the third quarter when they went ahead 44-38 off a three from Washington. Marchino hit a three and on the next possession converted two free throws to tie the game 46-all with 4:10 to go in the quarter. Seward did not trail again in the quarter, leading 56-52 after three.
Seward did not trail in the fourth. They took their biggest lead of the game at the 2:30 mark when Posch buried a three to make it 70-61. Cloud fought back and went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the Seward lead to one at 70-69 with 32 seconds remaining. Trinitee Holmes went 3-4 from the free throw line over the final 30 seconds to ice the game for Seward who won its first conference opener since 2022-23.
Marchino, Posch and Fagan each played all 40 minutes in the game. Marchino scored 25 or more for the fourth time this season.
The Lady Saints host their home conference opener on Saturday at 2 p.m. hosting Colby. KSCB is the game buyout sponsor and tickets are available at the Liberal Recreation Department, Flooring America, BrickHouse BBQ & Brew, Toot 'n Totum, Billy's Ayr Lanes and Ashley Furniture.
