The Seward Lady Saints won a grinding game with the Garden City Lady Busters 81-78 Wednesday night in the Green House.  It’s Seward’s first two game sweep over their rivals to the north since 2020.  Avery Marchino led Seward with 31 points in a game Seward led by 11 early in the third quarter but trailed by three at the end of three.

The game was tied 9-9 at the first media timeout.  The Lady Saints led 18-14.  But the Lady Busters took a 22-20 lead after one quarter.  A 10-0 run by the Lady Saints made it 30-22 with 8:10 to play in the half.  SCCC led 33-24 with 7:14 to play.  Seward led by nine four different times in the second quarter.  The Lady Saints led 49-41 at the half.  GCCC dominated the second half out scoring Seward 22-11 to lead 63-60 after three.  Seward used an 8-0 run to lead 68-63 with 7:15 remaining.  Seward led 70-66 and 72-69 with 2:48 remaining.  GCCC led 75-74 before SCCC took a 78-75 lead with 30 seconds to go.  Kimora Fagan hit two clutch free throws to make it 80-78.

Avery Marchino was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game with 31 points and was 15-16 at the foul line.  Trinitee Holmes scored a career high 21 points with six rebounds.  Kimora Fagan scored 14.

Seward shot 59 percent from the field making 6-12 from three point range and 23-26 from the foul line for 89 percent.  Garden shot 47 percent and put up 16 more shots than Seward.  GCCC was 8-19 from three and 14-19 from the foul line.  Seward led points off turnovers 26-19.

Garden City is 15-8 overall and 10-8 in the Jayhawk.  Seward is 17-8 overall and 12-7 in the Jayhawk.  Seward plays at Butler Saturday afternoon at 2pm with Saints Shoot-around at 1:45 on 1270 and 92.3.