Saints fall to Pratt

EARL WATT • Leader & Times

Blessin Kimble gave Seward County a 55-54 lead with one minute to play against the Pratt Beavers on the road Saturday in the first round of the Region 6 playoffs. But Seward could not hold the lead and lost 59-58.

Seward led by as many as seven early in the second half, but neither team had more than a four-point lead in the final 10 minutes.

After Kimble gave the Saints the one-point lead in the final minute, Pratt hit a pair of free throws to tie the game with 50 seconds to play and then took a 57-55 lead four seconds later.

Seward has the ball with 18 seconds to play but never put up a shot and committed a turnover with four seconds to play. Pratt made both free throws to take a four-point lead, and Wilson Dubinsky connected on a three-pointer as time expired for the 59-58 loss.

Whitley led the Saints with 24 points, and Dubinsky had 12.

Seward finished 13-18 for their third consecutive losing season.

Seward’s last winning season was 17-14 in 2020.