Grymek/Bernard Lead Lady Saints to Win at Dodge City

It certainly wasn’t a work of art for the Seward County Lady Saints on the road at Dodge City on Saturday afternoon, but they escaped with a win, holding Dodge City to just 24% shooting in the game to come away with a 59-52 victory to secure their 13th Jayhawk Conference win of the 2016 season. Seward was led by Joanna Grymek and Axelle Bernard who both posted double-doubles and combined for 10 blocked shots in the win.

Seward got off to a good start Saturday against Dodge and it looked like they would control the tempo early on as they led 10-3 and allowed just one Dodge City basket through the first 6:04 of the game. But the Lady Saints went cold down the stretch in the first and Dodge City came all the way back to tie the score at 14 before a late bucket from Tiani White gave them a two point, 16-14 lead after one.

Axelle Bernard scored early in the second quarter to put Seward in front 18-14, but it was all downhill from there for the rest of the half. The Lady Saints were outscored 19-7 to finish the half and faced a 33-25 deficit at the break, playing against a Conquistador team coming off of a loss to Colby who hadn’t won a conference game all season long in 17 tries.

Seward shot just 29% in the first half while Dodge shot just a tick better at 30%. The Conqs though, made their money from deep where they were 6-14 from three point land for the eight point lead at the break.

Seward Coach Toby Wynn’s halftime message was very clear as the second half began, get the ball inside to Joanna Grymek, and the Lady Saints did just that. Grymek scored Seward’s first 10 points of the third quarter to put the Lady Saints back in front 35-34 and Bernard scored the next six to push Seward’s lead to three at 41-38. After a Dodge hoop made it a one point game, the Lady Saints got a three from White and two more buckets from Grymek and Bernard to take a 48-39 lead after three quarters of action. Seward outscored the Conqs 23-6 in the period and held Dodge to just one field goal.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Saints pushed their lead to 15 and their defense did the rest from there. Despite not getting a field goal for the final 6:22 of the game, the Lady Saints effected enough Conquistador shots and held Dodge quiet enough to get out of the Civic Center with a 59-52 win to earn their 13th Jayhawk Conference win of the season.

Seward picked their offense up to shoot 46% in the second half to finish at 37% for the game while Dodge continued to struggle in the second half, hitting just 18% of their shots to finish the afternoon at a dismal 24%. Grymek finished a big game with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots for the Lady Saints while Bernard also posted a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Outside of those two, Seward shot just 18% in the game while the Lady Saints bench did not score in the contest.

The Lady Saints improve to 21-7 overall and 13-5 in Jayhawk Conference play with the win. Seward remains in 4th place in the conference standings, but after a Garden City loss Saturday night, could move into the #3 spot if they can win Monday and the Busters lose their finale to Hutchinson.

Seward will wrap up a hectic final 10 days of the regular season on Monday at home in the Greenhouse when they host the Colby Lady Trojans at 6:00 on Sophomore Night in Liberal. Seward’s four sophomores will be recognized immediately following the game. Free tickets are available courtesy of our buyout sponsor Sharp, McQueen, PA, at their Liberal offices or at Pizza Hut and Hutch’s in North Liberal.

SEWARD COUNTY/DODGE CITY BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/boxscores/20160220_lwxc.xml?view=boxscore>

Roy Allen