It wasn’t pretty, but a win none the less.

In a Saturday afternoon game, the Salina Saints took on visiting KC Soul in inner Division Play.  The crowd was captivated by Jackie Kramer’s The Vision dance company out of Hays KS which performed in the pre-game and then awed by The Stepz from Salina at half time, but the Saints struggled getting in step all game.  The Saints picked up from where they left off last Saturday.  The Saints didn’t shoot well and didn’t take care of the ball.  Coach Favors and Coach Collins were not happy with the way the Saints played and defended.  The first qtr. ended with the Saints up 23 – 22.  Both teams were hacking most of the night and the whistles were blowing all game, and both teams were in the penalty each qtr.  The second period ended with Jay Mitchell of the KC Soul racking up 10 points which got Coach Favors off the bench.  Mitchell hung 38 on the Saints in their last meeting.  Coach Favors usually does not call time outs as he likes for his players to work through their problems with just some coaching in transition, but tonight he called them to the bench.  The second quarter ended 50-46 with the Saints clinging to a four-point lead.

The second half Coach Favors put Scottie Gardner on Mitchell, as he was not going to let him have another all-star performance.  The overseas player scored twice the rest of the game, and that was when Gardner was not on him.  Tim Niles and Coury Clayton made their presence known all game.  They simply would not let the Soul take control even though this was the game the Saints trailed in the most.  At the end of 3 the Saints were up 84 – 79.  In the 4th period, The Chief, Bernie Bahr got involved in the paint and stabilized the Saints to another win.  Marquez Patterson has been one of the leading scorers this year, but gave his lowest output of the year 12 pts.  Well below his average of over 30.  Tim Niles led the team with 26, followed by Koury Clayton with 23.

The Saints finished the game with 19 turnovers, 11 assists, and 7 steals.  Coach Collins said that this week will be filled with drills on taking care of the ball and passing.

The Saints take on the Oklahoma City Outlaws next Saturday 12/23 at 7:00 PM.  This is their Military Appreciation Game and all Active and Retired Military get in Free with Military ID.  The Saints are now 23 – 0.  Come out and be a part of a growing tradition.  As always, thanks to our fans, and God Bless!!