Seabury Academy boys basketball coach Matthew Downing Jr. had his squad do a little character-building over the holiday break to get out of its three-game slump to start the season.

Against Flint Hills Christian on Friday, Downing found out just how much character his team has as the Seahawks controlled the game from start to finish in a 65-49 victory.

“We didn’t do too much basketball stuff, just a lot of strength and conditioning – just focusing on the small things,” Downing said. “I just think the guys needed that time to get a grasp on the offense and what I’m trying to do with the up-tempo style and the ball pressure. It was just more of a mind-set thing more than anything else.”

There was no doubt Seabury (1-3) was beginning to understand the new offense. In their first three games under the first-year coach, the Seahawks averaged just 29 points per game; the most scored in a single game had been 33.

Max Cannon showed the best sign of life on offense, breaking out with 19 points while going 3-for-5 from three-point range.

“After the last three games, I just wasn’t having fun,” Cannon said. “My dad talked to me and just said, ‘Have fun and smile, and you’ll do good.’ So I just came out smiling from the beginning and just had a fun time, and it was just falling for me.”

Though senior captains Cannon and Scotty King – who had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds – led the team in scoring, the show was run by a freshman point guard.

The fans were awed constantly by Ryan Gutierrez’s ball-handling skills, as he dished out six assists to go with his four points and four steals.

SEABURY ACADEMY SOPHOMORE GABRIELLE DILLON looks for an open passing lane as Flint Hills Christian senior Broghan Evans defends. The short-handed Seahawks fell, 44-15, on Friday night in Lawrence.

“He’s really gotten used to the speed of the game, I think – it’s a lot different than junior-high ball,” King said of the freshman. “He’s adjusted really well and just tries not to make too many bad mistakes.”

Flint Hills Christian 44, Seabury Academy girls 15

While the Seabury boys had plenty of offense, the girls hit just six baskets in their loss to open Friday night’s doubleheader.

But shots weren’t the only thing the Seahawks (1-3) were missing against the Warriors.

Seabury played without Melissa Burch – one of its top post players – who was still on vacation in Colorado, and head coach Nick Taylor was also absent. His wife had just given birth the day before.

“We were definitely out of sorts without having him (Taylor) there. It definitely made a difference with the kids being used to having him there,” said assistant coach Becky Bridson, who took over the coaching duties for Taylor, who is expected back on the sidelines for Tuesday’s game against Olathe Christian.

Not having Burch down low seemed to be a factor for fellow post player Molly Thurman, who had just three points and nine rebounds.

“They feed off of each other, and sometimes Molly can see that Melissa is really being aggressive in there, and her intensity is way up there, and Molly will definitely feed off of that,” Bridson said.