By CHARLES SPURLOCK
TopSports.news
Seaman's boys basketball team hosted Shawnee Heights in a United Kansas Conference contest on Friday night, and in a game where both teams took turns with the upper hand, the T-Birds rallied late to take a 54-51 victory while extending their win streak to five games.
Junior Jaret Sanchez (23) scored 15 points to lead Shawnee Heights to its fifth straight win, 54-51 over Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Brennon Dodge scored 14 points Friday night as Shawnee Heights held off Seaman for a 54-51 UKC win [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Thunderbirds built an 11 point lead at one point in the first half, but the Vikings battled back to take the lead at the end of the third quarter, 40-38.
“In the first half, we weren’t on the same page offensively and weren’t communicating well enough,” said Seaman coach Craig Cox.
Shawnee Heights led by eight points after the first quarter and built the lead to a game-high 11 points, but Seaman was able to cut into the lead and only trailed 30-24 at the halftime break.
The Vikings continued to battle throughout the third quarter and were able to take their first lead with a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Braden Chapman.
The fourth quarter began how the third quarter ended with a 3-point basket by Chapman giving the Vikings a 43-38 lead, but Shawnee Heights scored the next seven points -- five from senior Brennon Dodge and a dunk from junior Deacon Pomeroy -- giving the T-Birds a 45-43 lead with 4:53 remaining in the game.
The lead was extended to 48-43, but Seaman clawed back to get within 48-47 before senior Dylan Sanchez hit a huge 3-pointer for the T-Birds, putting them up 51-47 with just under two minutes remaining.
Seaman was able to cut the deficit to 51-49, then Shawnee Heights committed a turnover. But on the ensuing possession, an offensive foul was called on sophomore KaeVon Bonner, giving the ball right back to Shawnee Heights.
After trading points, the T-Birds led 53-51 and Seaman fouled junior Jaret Sanchez, who made one of two free throws, giving Shawnee Heights a 54-51 lead with 11 seconds remaining.
Bonner attempted a 3-pointer to tie at the buzzer, but it rimmed out.
Seaman was led by Bonner with 13 points and Chapman had 12 points. Holden Finley led the Vikings with five rebounds.
Shawnee Heights was led by Sanchez with a game-high 15 points while Dodge scored 14 and freshman Camron Ross came off the bench to score nine points. Sanchez also corraled eight rebounds.
The Vikings (3-4 overall, 3-4 UKC) will travel to McPherson next week for the McPherson Invitational Tournament. They open on Thursday with a game against Blue Valley. The Thunderbirds (5-2, 5-2) will be playing in the Shawnee Mission West tournament next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS 54, SEAMAN 51
Shawnee Heights 16 14 8 16 -- 54
Seaman 8 16 16 11 -- 51
Shawnee Heights (5-2, 5-2) -- Cook 0-0 0-0 0, Pomeroy 3-3 0-0 6, Alston 1-1 0-0 2, D. Sanchez 2-5 0-0 6, Dodge 5-9 2-2 14, Ross 4-8 0-0 9, Emmot 1-2 0-0 2, Holly 0-1 0-2 0, J. Sanchez 4-10 7-12 15, Moore 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 20-43 9-16 54.
Seaman (3-4, 3-4) -- H. Finley 4-10 0-0 9, Wiltz 2-5 0-0 5, Phillips 2-5 2-2 7, Bonner 4-12 2-2 13, Zuniga 1-1 1-1 3, Chapman 4-5 1-1 12, Unruh 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 17-41 8-8 51.
3 point goals -- Shawnee Heights 5 (D. Sanchez 2, Dodge 2, Ross), Seaman 9 (Bonner 3, Chapman 3, Finley, Wiltz, Phillips). Total fouls -- Shawnee Heights 16, Seaman 18. Fouled out -- none.
