By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman struggled through much of Tuesday night's Centennial League girls contest against Manhattan, with the game going down to the final possession.
But the Vikings got the job done, hanging on for a 49-46 win in a makeup contest at Seaman as freshman Anna Becker led the way with a career-high 26 points.
Freshman Anna Becker scored a career-high 26 points as Seaman held off Manhattan for a 49-46 Centennial League win Tuesday night. [File photo/TSN]
"Sometimes you just have to find a way to win,'' Seaman coach Matt Tinsley said. "We have a young team and I told the girls after the game that we needed a grind-it-out, see-how-tough-you-are kind of game.
"This was a good step for us. Tough teams win games and credit Manhattan. They didn't quit and they had some girls hit some big shots late.''
Seaman, which improved to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in the league, never trailed after taking a 16-15 lead with about five minutes left in the opening half, but Manhattan (4-9, 3-6) refused to go away.
The Vikings led 28-21 at the half and by 10 points twice in the third quarter, but Manhattan cut its deficit to six at the start of the fourth quarter and fought back from nine points down in the fourth quarter to get within two points (48-46) with 23.3 seconds remaining.
Seaman sophomore Tayln Stallbaumer hit one of two free throws with 15.6 seconds left to account or the final margin as the Vikings survived the Manhattan upset bid despite missing some key free throws late (12 of 22 for the game).
"Usually we're a pretty good free throw team down the stretch and I think we were one of eight maybe at the line,'' Tinsley said. "But it's good for us to be in that situation and still come out with a win when I feel we didn't play our best.''
Becker scored 12 points in the first half and 14 after the break to power Seaman's offense as the Vikings' lone double-figure scorer.
Junior Jaycee Schumann added eight points off the bench for Seaman.
Senior Grace Dixon led Manhattan with 14 points while sophomore Maxine Doering added 11.
Seaman will be back at home Friday to host Highland Park in a Centennial League contest.
SEAMAN GIRLS 49, MANHATTAN 46
Manhattan 10 11 12 13 -- 46
Seaman 10 18 11 10 -- 49
Manhattan (4-9, 3-6) – Yates 1-4 2-3 4, Larson 1-4 1-2 3, Doering 3-5 4-4 11, Ruliffson 2-5 1-3 5, Dixon 6-8 2-4 14, Ingram 2-3 0-0 6, Sa. Salmans 0-1 0-0 0, So. Salmans 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 16-32 10-16 46.
Seaman (9-4, 7-3) – Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Stallbaumer 2-4 1-2 5, Becker 8-12 9-12 26, Gormley 1-2 0-1 2, Mills 1-3 0-0 2, Schumann 3-7 2-2 8, Esser 3-3 0-5 6, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-31 12-22 49.
3-point goals – Manhattan 4 (Ingram 2, Doering, Sophia Salmans), Seaman 1 (Becker). Total fouls – Manhattan 21, Seaman 15. Fouled out – Doering, Ruliffson.
