Stephanie Croston

    The Seward girls' basketball team took its show on the road Feb. 2 and upset then-undefeated Lincoln Pius X 57-49.
     Coach Tom Tvrdy said the Jays jumped out to an 11-1 lead. Pius hit a three-pointer in the third quarter to take a one-point lead, but Seward's Laural Wagner answered with a three pointer of her own to put the Jays back up by two, and the team never looked back.
     Megan Schmidt's defense helped keep the Jays in front in the second half. Tvrdy said she was given a different assignment in the second half, defending against a player who had scored 10 points in the first half. That player scored none in the second, Tvrdy said.
     Natasha Mueller hit three of four three-pointers and finished the game with 12 points. Wagner added 11, but Alyssa Kamphaus led the team with 17 points, despite sitting out the third quarter with foul trouble.
     "Our bench came through," Tvrdy said. "We had contributions from everyone. It was a team effort."
     He said the huge crowd provided a "state-tournament atmosphere" for the game. He said the great fan support provided the key for the Jays to win the game.
     "We have such gratitude to the fans for coming out," he said.
    Upcoming action
     Seward was scheduled to play at Fairbury Feb. 5, another huge game for the 15-1 Bluejays.
     Friday, Feb. 8, Seward is slated to host York. Tvrdy said the team is much improved, and the Jays will have to play well to defeat the Dukes.
     "We have four weeks left in the season. We're excited to be having a memorable season," he said.