Sewardsaints.com
A 14-0 run that began midway through the second half helped push Seward to a 95-77 win over the Barton Cougars at The Greenhouse on Saturday afternoon.
Seward (12-4, 7-3 KJCCC) moves back into a four-way tie for first place in the Jayhawk Conference alongside Butler, Dodge City and Independence with the 18-point win over Barton (10-7, 5-6).
Seward snapped a five-game losing streak against the Cougars as first-year head coach Austin Downing led the Saints to a win over his former boss and mentor, Jeremy Coombs, in front of a rowdy home crowd. The game saw four technical fouls, two from each team.
"Nothing but respect for the guys over there," said Downing. "At the end of the day it was all love. Coach Coombs and I talked a little bit before and after the game. He told me he was proud of me, and I have a lot of respect for him. I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for him, and I wouldn't know the things I do if it weren't for him."
The game had 25 lead changes and nine ties. The first half showed that as neither team led by more than four throughout the first 20 minutes. Barton's largest run of the game was a 5-0 run that was capped by a Noah Williams jumper with 6:08 in the first half to put them ahead 27-26. Barton's Lazare Mbala canned a three with a minute to play in the half to put the Cougars ahead 38-34. Seward's Yanceeh Fleret hit a jumper with 50 seconds to go to trim the deficit to two, with the halftime score sitting at 38-36 in favor of the Cougars.
Seward outscored Barton 59-39 in the second half as they shot 59.3 percent (16-27) from the field compared to just 38.9 percent (14-36) in the first half. Seward's largest run of the game, a 14-0 stretch, began with 9:36 remaining as Antonio Williams Jr. put in a layup to make it a one-point deficit, 57-56. Quincey Kidd hit two threes and Williams Jr. and Fleret put down thunderous dunks that brought the crowd to their feet. The Saints led 68-57 after the run.
Barton got within eight twice, but the Seward lead swelled to as much as 19 with 50 seconds to go after converting on multiple trips to the free throw line. RJ McKinnie (13) and Williams Jr. (17) combined for 30 second-half points for the Saints.
Williams Jr. led all scorers with 26 points, shooting 16-17 from the free throw line. McKinnie had a career-high 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kidd contributed 11 points shooting 3-5 from distance while Lucas N'Gombo had eight points and eight rebounds.
Seward had 57 bench points compared to Barton's 20 while outrebounding the Cougars 39-35 and forcing 17 Barton turnovers compared to 10 from the Saints. Seward also outscored Barton 38-26 in points in the paint.
Noah Williams led Barton with 22 points and seven rebounds, Aris Rodriguez had 14.
Seward hits the road next, taking on the Cowley Tigers in Arkansas City Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip. Brock Kappelmann will have the call on 1270/92.3, pregame at 5:15.
