Sports

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

Seward and No. 18 Butler combined to attempt 102 free throws in a hotly defended game, but the aggressive defense led to a combine 68 points from the free throw line and ended with a 130-110 Seward win.

After only winning two conference games last year, the Saints head to the break in first place with a 6-2 conference record and 11-3 overall.

Seward had little trouble breaking the full court press that Butler ran the entire game, and the Saints had a seven point lead late in the first half before the Grizzlies rallied to tie the game and then take a 61-59 lead at half with a last second jumper that sent Seward coach Austin Downing to the hallway before he went to the locker room. But the Saints took a 66-64 lead with 17:41 to play and built the lead to 80-71 with 13:13 to play after a Korbin Dowdell jumper.

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

No. 14 Butler used a full court press and a stifling defense to frustrate the Seward County Lady Saints and defeat Seward in the Greenhouse 77-51.

Lady Saint standout Avery Marchino was held to just five points and was called for a technical after she was trapped in the corner several times and was tied up by the Lady Grizzly defenders.

The Lady Saints missed several shots close to the basket but could not find a way to get to the free throw line. Seward made three of four free throws for the game while Butler made 21 of 32 free throw attempts.

Special to the Leader & Times

The Liberal High School boys swim team competed at Salina in a meet with seven teams last week.

“It was a great meet in which many of our swimmers achieved personal records, by shortening their times,” Liberal head coach Lidia Thomas said.

Liberal finished fifth overall.

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

Despite trailing by four at half, the Seward County Lady Saints rallied for a 62-59 win to move to 10-3 overall and 5-2 in the Jayhawk Conference.

The two teams were tied 9-9 after the first quarter, but Garden City had a 28-24 lead at half.

Seward tied the game 44-44 at the end of the third and outscored the Lady Broncbusters by three in the final period for the win.

Avery Marchino scored 22 points, Trinitee Johnson had 12, Destiny Alexander had 12, and Kimora Fagan had 11.