By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The speculation going into Friday night's United Kansas Conference girls basketball matchup was that the contest between top-ranked (Class 5A) Seaman and Basehor-Linwood would be close due to this season's brief history.
But the result on Friday was the opposite, with Seaman rolling through Basehor-Linwood, 68-34.
Junior Taylin Stallbaumer led Seaman with a game-high 23 points in Friday's 68-34 UKC win over Basehor-Linwood. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman's only loss of the 2022-2023 campaign was to Basehor-Linwood on Jan. 10, with the Bobcats prevailing in double overtime on its home court, 74-71.
"We came into this game a lot more focused," Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "The first time we played them, they outplayed us. They outhustled and outcoached us last game, too. I thought we played a focused game this time from the get-go. The unselfish play of our girls, making the extra pass and cranking it up defensively, helped us win."
Despite its overwhelmingly young core, Tinsley and the Vikings have been nothing short of impressive.
In the last two seasons, Seaman has only lost to 5A opponents twice in the regular season.
"I know it sounds cliche, but we are truly focused on one game at a time," Tinsley said. "We realize that there is a lot ahead of us. At this time of the year, you want to play your best. We want to be that team that is hot down the stretch. We are playing good team basketball, but we have more work to do, and that starts in practice."
The production of junior Taylin Stallbaumer and sophomore Anna Becker has heavily contributed to Seaman's success in the last two years. The duo has been one of the most consistent guard groups offensively and defensively in 5A.
On Friday night, T. Stallbaumer scored a game-high 23 points, while Becker backed her with 18 points.
"They are stepping up and playing their game," Tinsley said. "That's exactly what I want them to do. I want them to be themselves, and I can't hold them back. They're playing within our scheme and doing what we want to do. We want them to attack, and I don't want our players to be passive. I want them to play within their strengths, and I thought they did that and more tonight."
Seaman didn't win the game in the first quarter, but it was close to that.
The Vikings opened up the first 1:50 of the contest with a 6-0 run, forcing a Basehor timeout. T. Stallbaumer had four points and forced a steal, while Brooklyn Gormley had two blocks.
In the next 1:44 of the first quarter, Seaman blew the game open with another run, forcing another Bobcat timeout. Seaman ran with its 11-3 run, and with four-plus minutes to go in the opening quarter, the Vikings extended its enormous opening lead to 17-3.
"I thought out of the gate we were terrific," Tinsley said. "I told our girls before the game that we needed to play with a sense of urgency. We didn't have that sense of urgency the first time we played them. That was my fault. I didn't have us ready for that game, but we were ready for them tonight."
T. Stallbaumer's 12 points boosted Seaman to a 15-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 25-10.
It was the same song and dance in the second quarter. The Vikings dominated again, giving Seaman nearly a 30-point lead going into the locker room.
Freshman Maddie Gragg (5), Becker (7) and T. Stallbaumer (5) combined for 17 of the Vikings' 22 second-quarter points.
Overall, Seaman completely overwhelmed Basehor-Linwood in the half.
Defensively, the Vikings forced nine steals, with seven of those steals coming from sophomore Jada Stallbaumer (3) and T. Stallbaumer (4). In addition, the Vikings forced the Bobcats to go seven of 20 from the field.
Offensively, Seaman gained its monstrous 47-20 halftime lead due to Seaman's 17 of 27 shooting. T. Stallbaumer was a perfect seven of seven from the field, having a game-high in points with 17.
The Lady Vikes didn't have to strain themselves too much in the second half, already sitting comfortably with a 27-point lead coming out of the halftime break.
Seaman was able to cruise in the second half with its 13-point third quarter and the defense holding Basehor-Linwood to 11 points. Seaman earned a running clock in the fourth quarter and would win 68-34.
Defensively, the trio of Becker, J. Stallbaumer and T. Stallbaumer combined for ten steals and three blocks in the 34-point victory, which was enormous for gaining points off of turnovers.
On Tuesday, Seaman (17-1, 13-1) will host United Kansas Conference and city rival Shawnee Heights.
SEAMAN GIRLS 68, BASEHOR-LINWOOD 34.
Basehor-Linwood 10 10 11 3 – 34
Seaman 25 22 13 8 – 68
Basehor-Linwood (12-6, 10-4) – Johnson 4-5 2-2, Fisher 1-7 0-0 2, Greer 3-5 0-0 8, Cruse 1-4 0-0 3, Baker 2-9 5-11 9, Christopher 1-2 0-0 2, Cornish 0-3 0-0 0, Gillam 0-1 0-0 0. Totals – 12-36 7-13 34.
Seaman (17-1, 13-1) – J. Stallbaumer 2-5 3-6 7, T. Stallbaumer 9-11 2-2 23, Becker 6-13 5-5 18, Gragg 4-7 0-2 9, Gormley 2-2 2-2 6, Schumann 0-1 2-2 2, Miller 1-1 0-0 2, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Moulden 0-1 0-0 0. Totals – 24-43 14-19 68.
3-point goals – Seaman 5 (T. Stallbaumer 3, Becker, Gragg) Basehor-Linwood 3 (Greer 2, Cruse). Total fouls – Seaman 17, Basehor-Linwood 18. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.
