By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights did everything right to shut down high-scoring Seaman guard KaeVon Bonner for three periods.
Seaman senior star KaeVon Bonner (33) scored 22 points Tuesday as the Vikings took control down the stretch for a 56-47 UKC road win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Vikings’ senior averages about 25 points per game. So when the host T-Birds held Bonner to just four points through 24 minutes of action Tuesday, they had reason to feel good about their 37-34 lead. But a set play out of the break sprung Bonner for an open look from three, and he buried it. It was the spark that started a fire.
Bonner torched Shawnee Heights for 16 points – all of the Vikings’ points – over the next 3:10, and all of a sudden Seaman led 50-40. Seaman held on to win 56-47 to improve to 14-3 on the season.
Seaman coach Craig Cox described the play that started the run.
“One of my assistants, Paul Muzzy, suggested that we go to a set play that gets (KaeVon) a look, and it was a great call and we executed it and he popped off the screen and knocked down the shot,” Cox said. “And then it was no looking back. Just an unbelievable fourth quarter.”
For three periods, Shawnee Heights senior Ja’Veon Alston went toe-to-toe with Bonner, harassing him with on-ball defense and scoring 13 points to Bonner’s four.
“They were doubling (Bonner) some when he was starting to attack,” Cox said. “They were bringing help defense, and (Alston) did a really good job of pressuring him, held him to four points until then. Then he was able to finally get it going and show how he can take over a game and dominate like that. I’m just really proud of him keeping his composure and coming through when we needed it.”
Bonner hit four straight attempts to start the run. Then, after missing a shot, the senior dropped a long triple, which he followed moments later with a three-point play.
“Once I hit that first three, I knew I was starting to feel it and the energy, the crowd … that first shot started it off,” Bonner said.
Not only did the T-Birds frustrate Bonner for three periods, they held Seaman’s second-leading scorer, Landon Wiltz, to zero shot attempts for the game. It was up to the other Vikings to keep the team in the game. Griffin Zuniga scored 16 points in support of Bonner’s 22.
“They really focused on (Landon) because when he gets to a spot on that shot, he’s really been lighting it up,” Bonner said. “But key players (Zuniga, Cameron Brian, Matthew McConnaughey), they all stepped up and we definitely needed that from them.”
Seaman now sits atop the United Kansas Conference standings at 11-1 with four league games left.
SEAMAN BOYS 56, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 47
Seaman 7 16 11 22 -- 56
Shawnee Heights 14 7 16 10 -- 47
Seaman (14-3, 11-1) – Wiltz 0-0 3-4 3, McConnaughey 0-5 2-2 2, Zuniga 7-14 0-0 16, Brian 2-4 0-0 5, Bonner 9-20 1-1 22, Becker 3-3 1-2 8, Esser 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-46 7-9 56.
Shawnee Heights (11-7, 7-5) – Alston 7-9 0-0 16, Cook 1-6 0-0 3, Ross 4-12 4-6 13, Scott 0-5 1-2 1, Dixon 5-15 2-2 13, Lee 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 17-48 8-12 47.
3-point goals – Seaman 7 (Bonner 3, Zuniga 2, Brian, Becker), Shawnee Heights 5 (Alston 2, Cook, Ross, Dixon). Total fouls – Seaman 11, Shawnee Heights 11. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
