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Cloud County hangs on for win over Saints

It took a few tries, but the Cloud County Thunderbirds were finally able to pull away from Seward County, and not allow the Saints to catch back up.
Cloud County had an 11-point lead at halftime, only to have 19th-ranked Seward County close to within one.
The T-Birds opened up a 10-point cushion, but the Saints fought back to make it a 65-64 game.
Despite missing four of five free throws, Cloud County scored eight straight points to go up 73-64, and wouldn’t let Seward County get any closer than five points over the final 1:13 of a critical 81-74 Jayhawk Conference Western Division victory Wednesday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
“That was a big game for us, and a big win,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County, with the win, moves to within half a game of Seward County for second place in the Jayhawk West.
The T-Birds, now 17-7 overall, is 8-3 in the Conference.
Seward County, 20-5 overall, is 9-3.
Unbeaten Hutchinson sits atop the West with an 11-0 record.
“It gives us a better chance to get second. That is what we have been talking about and playing for,” Erkenbrack said, “Having three losses the first time through the Conference makes it very difficult to be in the thing. We have a lot of very difficult games left. We have a long way to go to finish as the number two seed.”
Cloud County led most of the way in the game, but couldn’t shake the Saints until the final minute.
“We did have a tendency to make some silly mistakes on both ends of the floor. We have shown the propensity to be a poor free throw shooting team, and we were that tonight,” Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County connected on just 19 of 36 free throw attempts for 53 percent.
The T-Birds trailed 11-7 when Aleesha Coulter hit a three-point shot and was fouled. She made the free throw to start a 26-8 run that gave them a 33-19 advantage.
Consecutive threes by Payton Fleming and Anete Kirsteine got Seward County within eight points, 33-25.
Cloud County would push the lead to 39-28 at halftime.
Brieona Warner scored the first two points of the second half to put the T-Birds up 41-38.
Warner led all scorers with 24 points. She was 9 of 11 from the field and 6 of 14 from the line and had seven rebounds.
Seward County then rattled off 10 straight points to make it a 41-38 game.
Warner scored inside and Ashley Evans completed a three-point play, and the T-Birds led 46-38.
The two teams traded baskets, and the Saints tossed in seven unanswered points to get within one, 48-47.
A baseline jumper by Paige Champlin and a three by Jessica Downard upped Cloud County’s lead to 53-47.
Ashlynn Knoll scored on a drive, and Seward County trailed 53-49.
Champlin, a freshman forward, scored six points in less than a minute make it a 59-49 game. She scored 13 points off the bench, and was six of seven from the floor and one of  two from the line.
“I thought Paige Champlin was really good, especially in that little flurry in the second half that really gave us  cushion,” Erkenbrack said.
Seward County wouldn’t go away.
The Saints chipped away at the deficit, and got within a point, 65-64, when Ricquia Jones made two free throws with 4:52 to play.
Cloud County held Seward County scoreless of the next 3:51.
The T-Birds missed four of five free throws, but got a basket by Warner to go up 68-64 with 3:02 to play.
Evans hit a three with 1:41 remaining to push the lead from four to seven points, 71-64.
“That was huge. I don’t know if that was exactly the shot we wanted, but she hit it,” Erkenbrack said.
A layup by Warner made it 73-64 with 1:13 on the clock.
Seward County got no closer than five points after that.
Coulter finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Cloud County.
Tera Ingalsbe had 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Downard, a reserve guard, added nine points, six rebounds and two assists.
“Jessica Downard, that was probably her best all-around game of the year,” Erkenbrack said.
Kirsteine and Mariah Lee scored 12 points each for Seward County.
Knoll and Kayla Thomas finished with 11 points each.
Cloud County plays at Dodge City on Saturday night.

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