Seabury Academy’s boys basketball team had its game against Wetmore well in hand for a fair portion of the night on Monday.

Unfortunately, the squad dropped the ball – literally.

The Seahawks lost a two-point lead in the final three minutes by committing six turnovers – five on consecutive offensive possessions – and ended up losing, 44-40.

“Not being in that situation enough times, as far as having an opportunity to win the game at the end where we kind of controlled our own destiny, caused some apprehension on the guys’ parts a little bit as far as, ‘What do I do in this situation?'” Seabury boys coach Matthew Downing Jr. said.

Most of the Seahawks’ success on the offensive end came from their three-point shooting – particularly in the first half, making five of eight from outside.

However, Seabury couldn’t get shots to drop when it needed them most. The Seahawks were a combined 2-of-10 from behind the arc in the final two quarters.

“That’s been our problem throughout the season. We hit some threes early, and then we get three happy,” said Bill Gibbs, who made three three-pointers and had a team-high 13 points. “What we need to be doing is, an open three now and then is a good shot, but we need to be attacking the basket. We get a little overconfident, and we start jacking threes.”

Skyler Malone also knocked down three shots from outside to bring his point total to 11. Reed Grabill made the other three-pointer for Seabury and, like Gibbs and Malone, finished in double digits with 10.

Wetmore 44, Seabury girls 19

The Seabury girls squad was eyeing its first victory of the season against Wetmore and kept the game within 12 points through the first three quarters.

But a 13-0 disadvantage in the fourth quarter doomed the Seahawks.

“We were not hustling to the ball, and they were outrebounding us,” girls coach Nick Taylor said. “We get to within eight, and we’re playing really good defense, and then suddenly we stopped playing defense. We just stopped, and they started taking the ball to the hole and getting some easy shots.

“They put in a great effort for three quarters pretty much, but overall, we need to put together a game. We need to put together four quarters and go after it hard for four quarters.”

As Bria Phipps goes, so goes Seabury’s offense. By the fourth quarter, Phipps couldn’t go any longer, and none of her teammates stepped up.

“I was getting a little tired, and I lose my legs and my shot a little bit,” said Phipps, who scored all 19 of Seabury’s points. “I just try to put it up, and if it doesn’t go in, I tried my best, and it’s just too bad.”