The Coffeyville Red Ravens just couldn't hang on to its lead Monday, dropping one to the Seward Saints 67-61.

 

With both teams vying for top spots in the conference, it was of utmost importance to get going early. Both teams had strategies in mind, with the Ravens opting to get the ball inside to leading scorer Faith Simpson while the Saints relied on their shooting prowess outside.

 

Seward led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, but a frenetic scoring effort for Coffeyville at the beginning of the second allowed the Ravens an advantaged that grew to be as much as 9 points. Seward chipped back into the lead a bit just before the break, but the Red Ravens led at halftime, 33-28.

 

Coffeyville came out firing in the second half, increasing their lead to as much as 11 at 46-35. But the fun times wouldn’t last forever. The Saints continued to chip and chip at the lead, with Halima Salat in particular punishing the Ravens. She’d make 8 total threes throughout the game, and with Coffeyville unable to stop her, the lead evaporated.

 

There were chances for Coffeyville to get back into it from the free throw line, but shots were anything but free. The Ravens shot just 12-of-26 from the charity striple, leaving points off the board as Seward cruised to a 67-61 victory.

 

Simpson led the way with 19 points. Dariauna Carter had 12. Salat finished with 24. The Ravens fall to 15-6 on the season, 9-6 in Jayhawk Conference play.