Perfect start helps T-Birds down Saints, 71-67

Perfect in the first six minutes of the game, the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds had to overcome some shaky moments down the stretch to pull out a 71-67 Jayhawk Conference win over the Seward County Community College Saints Saturday afternoon in Bryant Gymnasium.
Cloud County hit its first eight field goal attempts in the game, including six from three-point range, in bolting to a 21-2 lead on Seward County in the first six minutes.
The T-Birds would extend that lead to as many as 28 points, 35-7.
Not giving up without a fight, the Saints would battle all the way back to tie the game at 65-65 with just over two minutes to play.
Cloud County, now 10-11 overall and 6-9 in the conference, got key baskets by Nate Duckworth and Zion Obanla in the final minutes to secure what turned out to be a hard fought conference win.
“I think this game really shows our growth over the year. While our growth hasn't always translated into wins, this time it did,” Cloud County coach Devin Kastrup, said.
Clawing their way back from the early 28-point deficit, the Saints still trailed 61-48 when Corey Sawyer Jr. hit one of two free throws for Cloud County with 4:59 to play.
Seward County, 9-13 overall and 6-10 in conference play, then got hot.
Taye Donald hit a three-point shot, was fouled and made the free throw.
Donald then knocked down another three-point shot, Harvin Ibarguen completed a three-point play and Branton McCrary made two free throws to get the Saints within a point, 61-60.
Two free throws by Sawyer Jr. put Cloud County up 63-60.
Wilson Dubinsky drilled a three, and the game was tied at 63-63.
“Credit to Seward, they never gave up. We go up 30 early and they just fought back and stayed true to their process,” Kastrup said.
Obanla scored for the T-Birds, but the Saints answered with a basket by Ibarguen to again pull even at 65-65.
Duckworth scored on a reverse layup to put the T-Birds on top to stay, 67-65.
McCrary missed two free throws for Seward County.
A basket by Obanla upped the T-Birds' lead to four points, 69-65.
Ibarguen scored off an offensive rebound to close the gap to 69-67.
The Saints forced a Cloud County turnover, but a shot by Donald to tie the game was off the mark.
Ibarguen came up with the offensive rebound, but Obanla got a steal.
Cloud County called a timeout with 28 seconds remaining.
The T-Birds ran the clock down before Joe Kearney drove to the basket.
Kearney’s shot wouldn’t fall, but Obanla pulled down the offensive rebound and scored with five seconds to play to seal the win for the T-Birds.
“We were able to lock in and find a way to win. I think it shows our growth and I am hoping the win will enable our guys to realize, okay, we are good enough to be up on teams and win,” Kastrup said.
Sawyer Jr. led three Cloud County players in double figures with 17 points.
Kearney scored 11 for the T-Birds and Malang Athian added 10.
Duckworth and Obanla finished with nine points each.
Cloud County shot a sizzling 73 percent (16 of 22) from the field in the first half and hit 8 of 10 from three-point range.
The T-Birds cooled off in the second half, but still finished 28 of 51 for 55 percent and made 11 of 17 threes for 65 percent.
Seward County had five players score in double figures, led by McCrary and Ibarguen with 15 points each.
Jaylin Henderson scored 13. Dubinsky had 12 and Donald chipped in 10.
Cloud County got off to a dream start in the game.
A basket by Sawyer Jr. and a three by Duckworth gave the T-Birds a quick 5-0 lead.
Following a bucket by Donald, the T-Birds got threes by Kearney, Sawyer Jr., Athian and Sawyer Jr. again
Kearney and Duckworth scored and it was a 21-2 Cloud County lead.
“Everything we shot went in,” Kastrup said of the start.
The T-Birds finally missed a couple of shots, and McCrary scored for Seward County to make it 21-4.
Two threes by Savian Edwards fueled a 14-3 Cloud County spurt that pushed the lead to 35-7.
Hampered by turnovers the T-Birds were outscored 11-5 over the final seven minutes of the first half, but still led 40-18.
Seward County opened the second half with a 20-7 run to cut the deficit to single digits, 47-38.
Cloud County would push the lead back to 14 points, 60-46.
The Saints mounted another charge to pull even and set up the frantic final minutes.
Cloud County is back in action at home tonight with a makeup game against Cowley College.