By CHARLES SPURLOCK
TopSports.news
LENEXA -- The Seaman Lady Vikings, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Associaion went on the road Friday to face St. James Academy, ranked No. 3 in 5A in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal, where St. James ended the Vikings season.
Sophomore Maddie Gragg led the way with 14 points as Seaman avenged a state tournament loss with a 50-37 road win at St. James Academy Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman was able to avenge last season's state loss in impressive fashion, taking a 50-37 win over the Thunder.
“They (the girls) are probably tired of me talking about St. James in every practice,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "I’m just so proud of the girls, they’re tough.”
The Vikings jumped out to a 16-4 lead at the end of the first quarter with seven points from sophomore Maddie Gragg and five points from senior Taylin Stallbaumer.
Their tough, focused play continued into the second quarter and Seaman went into halftime leading 31-12. Seaman struggled with executing on the offensive end in the third quarter and St. James cut into the lead and trailed 40-27 going into the fourth quarter.
“We kind of went off-script offensively in the third quarter and couldn’t make a layup,” Tinsley said.
St. James began the first three minutes of the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, leading to a Seaman timeout. Ava Esser had a big, offensive rebound and stick back, followed by two tough layups by junior Jaida Stallbaumer that quieted the rally.
Seaman had three players in double figures, led by Gragg with 14, Jaida Stallbaumer with 12 and Taylin Stallbaumer with 10. Gragg and Kinley Wilhelm both grabbed nine rebounds.
St. James was led by Riley Kerwin with 10 points and Reese Messer scored eight points.Seaman will be back in action at home on Tuesday (5:45 p.m.) for a United Kansas Conference clash with Piper.
SEAMAN GIRLS 50, ST. JAMES ACADEMY 37
Seaman 16 15 9 10 -- 50
St. James 4 8 15 10 -- 37
Seaman (3-0) -- J. Stallbaumer 4-8 3-4 12, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, E. Stallbaumer 0-1 0-0 0, T. Stallbaumer 3-10 3-5 10, A. Becker 3-8 2-4 8, Wilhelm 1-4 0-0 2, Gragg 5-12 3-3 14, Moulden 1-2 0-0 2, Esser 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 18-48 11-17 50.
St. James (0-1) -- Kerwin 4-8 0-0 10, Messer 4-15 0-0 8, Douglas 0-0 0-0 0, Ianello 0-0 0-0 0, Irsik 1-2 0-0 3, Robinson 1-7 2-4 4, K. Menghini 2-8 0-1 5, Tauscher 0-0 0-2 0, R. Becker 3-11 0-0 7. Totals 15-51 2-7 37.
3 point goals -- Seaman 3 (J. Stallbaumer, T. Stallbaumer, Gragg), St. James 5 (Kerwin 2, Irsik, K. Menghini, Becker). Total Fouls -- Seaman 11, St. James 21. -- Fouled out -- R. Becker.
