Sports

Lady Saints use strong 3rd to top Barton

Sewardsaints.com

Trailing 27-20 at halftime of Saturday's contest against Barton at The Greenhouse, the Seward County women exploded for 30 points in the third quarter, helping push them to a 64-56 home win.

It marks the Lady Saints (12-4, 7-3 KJCCC) second win in a row to kick off the spring semester, as well as the third straight win over the Cougars (6-11, 4-7) dating back to last season (2024-25).

Seward joins Hutchinson, Coffeyville and Garden City at 7-3 in league play, with the four teams tied for second behind Butler and Dodge City, both 9-1.

The Lady Saints struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 20.7 percent from the field (6-of-29). Barton built its largest lead late in the second quarter, going up 27-16, but Seward closed the half with the final two baskets — a jumper and two free throws from freshman Au'Rayona Seals — to cut the deficit to 27-20 at the break.

Saints suffer overtime setback at Independence, 87-83

Sewardsaints.com

INDEPENDENCE – The Seward County men led for a majority of the second half on Saturday at First Oak Bank & Oakes Family Fieldhouse but a late Independence rally saw them fall 87-83 in overtime in the first game of the calendar year for either team.

The Saints, (11-4, 6-3 KJCCC), who were receiving votes in the latest NJCAA rankings, had their five-game winning streak snapped with the loss. Seward led by eight at halftime and held a six-point advantage with under three minutes left in regulation, but the Pirates forced extra time with a layup from Diezel Davis with just over three seconds to play and pulled away in the final period. It marked Seward's first overtime game of the season.

Lucas N'Gombo paced the Saints with 16 points and eight rebounds, going 6-11 from the field. Awit Mamer and JJ Chapman each added 14 points and eight rebounds, with Mamer hitting 2 of 5 from beyond the arc. Korbin Dowdell contributed nine points off the bench.

Lady Saints start 2026 with blowout win over Independence

Sewardsaints.com

INDEPENDENCE – Seward County women's basketball opened the new year by delivering a strong defensive performance, pulling away early for a 76-37 victory over Independence on Saturday afternoon at First Oak Bank & Oakes Family Fieldhouse.

The Saints (11-4, 6-3 KJCCC) held Independence (4-10, 1-7) to 19.4 percent shooting and kept the Pirates in single digits during each of the final three quarters. Seward County gained control with a 16-10 edge in the second quarter and put the game out of reach by allowing Independence only five points in the third quarter.

Avery Marchino led Seward County with 21 points and 12 rebounds, good for a double-double on 8-of-16 shooting. Trinitee Holmes added 13 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Au'Rayona Seals and Kimora Fagan scored 12 points each. Destiny Alexander pitched in with nine points and seven rebounds.

Lady Redskins outpace Lady Eagles, 56-46

EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

Games between Liberal and Hugoton have been very competitive in recent years, and for most of Tuesday’s entry in the series was within a pair of possessions either way. But the Lady Redskins pulled away late in the second quarter and early in the third, and maintained their lead for a 56-46 win.

Hugoton’s aggressive defense disrupted the Lady Red offense early, and the Lady Redskins struggled to get quality shots.

Sophomore post Maliyah Mullens also committed two early fouls and had to sit out most of the first quarter.

Redskins can’t hold late lead in 58-52 loss

EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

Liberal is an overtime and a late lead in the fourth quarter away from being 3-3.

The Redskins dropped an overtime game in Salina to Campus, and Tuesday the Redskins had a lead with less than two minutes to play against Hugoton but couldn’t hold it in a 58-52 loss.

The Eagles and Redskins started with intensity on defense on both sides, and after Hugoton built a small lead, the Redskins rallied to take a 13-11 lead by the end of the first quarter including two threes from Juan Diego.