Thinking upset, the last place Seward County Saints set up their defense with a 50-49 lead and four seconds left. The #23 Coffeyville Red Ravens had the ball but had to go the length of the court in four seconds. Coffeyville’s Justin Taylor entered the pass to a teammate, got in back and raced toward the east basket. Taylor swished a one legged 20 footer from the top of the key. Coffeyville celebrated the buzzer beating win around the corner of their bench. Seward players, coaches, and fans looked on in stunned silence. The Red Ravens escaped with a 51-50 win in the Green House Saturday afternoon and evening.
Seward’s strategy against the heavily favored Ravens worked. Seward slowed the game down using long possessions and winding down the shot clock. Coffeyville led 25-23 at halftime. Seward jumped out in the second half to leads of 33-31, 38-34, and 41-35. Seward led 44-38 with 4:25 to play and led 46-39 from the 3:15 mark to the 2:19 mark. Seward failed to clear defensive rebounds on several key possessions late. Seward led 49-47 with 47 seconds left but SCCC put up an ill advised shot after Seward coach Rylee Hernandez was screaming for time out. The officials did not grant the time out. Coffeyville’s Trenton Ruth tied the game with a jumper from the high lane. Seward had the ball in a tie game with 24 seconds remaining. Nfaba Mane was fouled driving the right baseline. He made 1-2 free throws to give Seward the 50-49 lead. That’s before Justin Taylor of Coffeyville sent the Ravens home with a buzzer beating win.
Benni Kazadi was Epic Touch Player of the Game with 18 points. Kiku Parker played brilliantly at point guard with 11 points, four assists, and just one turnover.
Coffeyville is 13-3 overall and 9-1 in the KJCCC. Seward is 2-13 overall and 1-9 in the Jayhawk dropping their fifth straight. Seward has dropped nine of their last 10 to the Ravens. Seward plays at Hutchinson Wednesday night at 7:30 on 107.5.
