The #19 Seward County Saints moved back into a three way tie for first place in improbable fashion Wednesday night in the Green House. The Saints rallied from down 12 points to win 88-86 over Cloud in front of an ear splitting crowd. Korbin Dowdell hit a 3 to send the game to overtime then made 1-2 free throws to send the game to double overtime.
Seward took a 10-6 lead at the media timeout. They led 15-7 at the second media timeout. Cloud rallied to tie it at 31-31 at the half. The T-Birds bolted out of the halftime locker room to lead 55-43 with 9:16 remaining. RJ McKinnie nailed a three from the top of the key to give the Saints a 63-62 lead with 2:43 to go. The Thunderbirds raced back to lead 68-63. An RJ McKinnie three point play made it 68-66 with 23 seconds remaining. Cloud led 70-66. The Saints cut the lead to 70-68 with 14 seconds remaining. Cloud led 71-68 but Seward’s Korbin Dowdell connected on a right wing three to tie the game at 71-71. Cloud then threw the ball away to give the Saints the ball with 3.6 seconds left. But a left wing three for the Saints to win it rimmed out. The game went to overtime tied 71-71. In overtime, the Saints trailed 76-75 but Korbin Dowdell got fouled trying to catch a pass with .01 remaining . Dowdell made 1-2 free throws to tie the game at 76-76 and send it to double overtime. In double OT, McKinnie drained a clutch left wing three with the shot clock expiring for an 84-81 lead with 30.8 seconds left. Cloud made it 84-83 with 23.8 seconds left. The game was tied 86-86 after Cloud’s Sincere Burnette made a clutch step back three pointer to tie the game at 86-86. McKinnie made a lay up with .8 seconds left to give SCCC an 88-86 lead. Seward was called for a delay of game technical but Cloud missed the free throw. The T-Birds had the ball and needed to go the length of the court with .8 remaining. They did not get a shot up in time and the Saints held on.
The Saints shot 43 percent from the field making 6-27 from three for 22 percent and 20-35 from the free throw line for 57 percent. Cloud shot 42 percent making 6-15 from three and 30-48 from the foul line. Seward out rebounded the KJCCC’s top rebounding team 50-41. The Saints won despite 21 turnovers but forced 18 Cloud turnovers.
RJ McKinnie came alive late to lead the Saints with 22 points. Korbin Dowell scored 17. Lucas N’Gombo was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game with 19 points and 13 rebounds on 7-10 shooting. JJ Chapman had 16 points and eight rebounds on 8-9 shooting. Antonio Williams Jr. scored 10.
Cloud is 11-8 overall and 6-7 in the Jayhawk. The Saints are 14-5 overall and 9-4 in the Jayhawk. They are tied for first with Butler and Dodge City. The Saints play at Colby Sunday at 3pm on 1270 and 92.3.
