By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys were probably going to need to be clicking on all cylinders Tuesday night to knock off visiting Piper, one of the United Kansas Conference's hottest teams, and when Seaman lost one of its main cogs, senior Kaeden Bonner, to an injury less than four minutes into the game, it became apparent that it might be a long night for the Vikings.
Seaman freshman KaeVon Bonner (11) puts up a shot on the way to a game-high 21-point night in the Vikings' 73-60 UKC loss to Piper. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman senior Aron Davis scored 18 points in Tuesday's 73-60 UKC loss to Piper. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And although Seaman showed grit in cutting what had been a 22-point Pirate lead to seven late in the game, Piper never trailed en route to a 73-60 win.
Piper, which improved to 11-4 overall and 8-3 in the UKC, already led 10-4 when Bonner, a returning All-Shawnee County pick, crashed hard into the bleachers while trying to make a defensive play, suffering what appeared to be an injury to his left knee, and did not return to the game.
"He can attack and he can create for teammates and he makes the others better,'' Seaman coach Craig Cox said of Bonner. "Without him then we lose a really good ball handler, a really good slasher, a really good shooter so we just got really sped up. We couldn't find an answer.''
Piper quickly took control after Bonner left the game, opening up a 21-point advantage on the way to a 39-22 halftime lead and Seaman (7-6, 4-5) never threatened until late in the game.
Piper led by 18 (55-37) at the start of the fourth quarter but Seaman rallied behind some timely 3-pointers to claw all the way back to within seven (67-60) with 1:40 left before the Pirates scored the final six points.
"We gave ourselves a little bit of an opportuity there late, which I was proud of their effort,'' Cox said.
Freshman KaeVon Bonner did his best to keep Seaman in the hunt, scoring a game-high 21 points with three 3-pointers and a five of five performance at the free throw line.
The Vikings got a second scare when senior Aron Davis briefly left the game and went to locker room with 2:18 left in the third quarter after being fouled, but Davis quickly returned to action and finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Piper had four players crack double figures, led by junior Gannon Roth with 20 points.
Seaman will travel to De Soto on Friday and Cox was cautiously optimistic that Kaeden Bonner might be available for that game.
Seaman senior Kaeden Bonner missed most of Tuesday's 73-60 UKC loss to Piper with an injury, but early reports were that Bonner's injury did not appear to be serious. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"The initial report is positive,'' Cox said. "We'll have to see how he feels and whether they have to take a look at it.''
PIPER BOYS 73, SEAMAN 60
Piper 16 23 16 18 -- 73
Seaman 9 13 15 23 -- 60
Piper (11-4, 8-3) -- Moore 3-12 1-2 8, Reid 5-7 0-1 11, Kerr 5-6 2-3 12, Jackson Jr. 4-10 0-0 12, Roth 8-14 2-2 20, Griffin II 3-4 0-0 6, Walton 2-4 0-0 4, Berry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-57 5-8 73.
Seaman (7-6, 4-5) -- KaeVon Bonner 7-14 5-5 21, Kaeden Bonner 1-2 0-0 2, Chapman 2-6 1-2 5, Unruh 1-1 0-0 2, Davis 7-14 4-5 18, Parsel 0-0 0-0 0, Freeman 0-1 1-2 1, B. Finley 2-3 0-2 6, H. Finley 1-1 2-4 5. Totals 21-42 13-20 60.
3-point goals -- Piper 8 (Jackson Jr. 4, Roth 2, Moore, Reid), Seaman 5 (KaeVon Bonner 2, B. Finley 2, H. Finley). Total fouls -- Piper 16, Seaman 9. Fouled out -- none.
