It’s a rare sight to see a team that can keep up with Manhattan High, but that’s what Seaman gave the Lady Indians when MHS finishes out a close game 63-50 against Seaman. With a difference of only 13 points, this was the Lady Indian’s closest game of the season.

“I felt like we were a little slow in the beginning,” junior Haleigh Harper said. “We haven’t played a team that could keep up with us since our second game of the season against Saint Thomas Aquinas, so it took us a little bit to get used to it. I think as the game went on we started playing them well, I really feel like we played as a team and did a great job of picking people up on the court and on the bench.”

During the past few weeks, MHS has shown total dominance over their opponent. An example would be beating Topeka West by 54 points. Against Seaman, the Lady Indians came out strong, finishing the first quarter 20-9, but slow down in the second quarter finishing the half 31-23. This slow second quarter continued as they finish the third quarter 42-36.

“Seaman is a good team. I can’t take anything away from them,” Harper said. “They were quick and caused some of us to foul early, which hurt us a little. They did a good job of going to the basket and hitting outside shots. We would score and they would respond which made it a close game. In the end it really came down to who wanted it more and you won’t find another team that wants it more than us.”

Despite Seaman being able to keep up, MHS still finished out the fourth quarter with a 21-14 run. The team had several abilities that they demonstrated throughout the game that helped them overcome Seaman’s physicality.

“Teamwork and building each other up along with staying composed and making free throws when we needed to was what helped us pull through with a win,” senior Chrissy Carr said. “Freethrows had a big part in deciding who won, especially when need points without running time down and you’re up. I think these attributes are going to have a big impact on the McPherson tournaments since we won’t have any home fans there to support us, we need to be able to be our own cheerleaders on the bench.”  

The team made 27 of 31 freethrow attempts throughout the game, seven of which came from Carr. Harper and junior Kia Wilson both contributed six freethrows as well

The Lady Indians’ next competition is the McPherson Tournaments, starting on Thursday and ending on Saturday.

“I felt like it was good for us to have a close game and pulling through,” Carr said. “It gives us a taste of what it will be like this upcoming Thursday.”