Seneca Falls Short, Loses 40-28 to Manual in Title Game

UPDATE: The Seneca girls basketball team faced a tough defeat, falling 40-28 to Peoria Manual in the championship of the Falcon-Irish Thanksgiving Tournament on December 2, 2023. The Fighting Irish struggled to recover from a sluggish start, trailing by as many as 14 points in the opening quarter.

Despite a valiant effort, Seneca (3-1) could not overcome their early deficit, even after narrowing the gap to just five points with under six minutes remaining in the game. Coach Josh Myers expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “We are doing both of those things,” referring to their hard work and strategic play during the tournament.

“About midway through the fourth quarter, we cut it to five, but then had two missed layups in between a defensive stop,” Myers explained. “If we convert on those two chances, we put a little pressure on them and grab the momentum. It just didn’t work out for us tonight.”

Seneca struggled offensively, shooting only 7-of-41 from the field, which is a mere 17%. They also committed 25 turnovers. Standout performances came from all-tournament selections Graysen Provance, who scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Tessa Krull, who added six points and 12 rebounds.

On the opposing side, Manual (4-0) showcased their depth and skill, shooting 17-of-59 (29%) and dominating the boards with a 47-39 rebound advantage. Coach Holly Nelson praised her team’s defensive improvements, noting, “We’ve gotten better defensively with every game this week.”

Manual took control early, launching a decisive 12-0 run led by Nyanna Payton and several key three-pointers. The first quarter ended with Manual ahead 16-2, and they maintained the lead through halftime, ending the second quarter at 24-16.

As the game progressed, Seneca fought back, with a free throw by Kylee Rowley and a three-pointer from Provance narrowing Manual’s lead to 33-28 with just under six minutes left. However, Manual responded decisively with a layup from Payton and an old-fashioned three-point play from Breyasia Grayson, sealing their victory.

“To beat a team like Peoria Manual, who puts a lot of pressure on the ball and has good post players and guards, you have to make shots,” Myers stated. “We missed a bunch of open shots and just turned over the ball too much.”

Looking ahead, Seneca will regroup as they prepare to host St. Bede for their Tri-County Conference opener on Tuesday. As the team reflects on this championship loss, they remain focused on building momentum for the upcoming games.

Stay tuned for more updates on Seneca’s journey in the season ahead!