By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With just one game remaining on their December calendar, the Salina South girl’s basketball team will be in search of a big win on Tuesday when they play host to the Maize Lady Eagles.
The Lady Cougars split their first two matchups but will enter this contest at 1-4 looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while Maize comes in at 1-4 fresh off their first and only win of the year, knocking off Haysville-Campus 40-25 last Friday.
While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Salina South, the Lady Cougars have held their opponents to just over 40 points per game on average, giving themselves opportunities to hang around.
“We have been challenged so far this season and our girls have responded incredibly well,” South head coach Justin Ebert said. “Defensively, we have had some lapses, but we have defended very well through five games. Offensively, we continue to grow and understand the game much better than we did in game one.”
To take the next step offensively, the Lady Cougars must take better care of each possession in their half-court sets, and surrender fewer points in transition.
“We have to find a way to value the basketball,” Ebert said. “We’re turning it over way too much and coming away with too many empty possessions. Hopefully, we turn the corner in our last chance before heading off to break.”
That opportunity comes in the form of a Maize team that also holds their opponents just shy of the 40-mark but has struggled even more mightily than the Cougars offensively.
“Our pre-break schedule has been demanding and our margin for error has been pretty small,” he said. “Maize is much like us, looking for some confidence and momentum going into the break. It is going to be a battle, I hope we rise to the challenge.”
On the hardwood, South will have to contend with a Lady Eagle defense that likes to muddy the waters and get out on the run when they can.
“Maize presents a lot of issues with their length in the zone,” Ebert said. “They’re a team that finds ways to get deflections and turnovers in the half-court and our girls need to be secure and steady when attacking the gaps.”
On the other end of the floor, the Lady Cougars will need to continue their brand of stifling defense to take the Eagles out of their element, and to get things rolling in transition themselves.
“We have to be able to apply some defensive pressure and start creating scoring opportunities in the full court,” he said. “Once Maize gets settled in their zone, it is tough to crack, so we have to find scoring outside of the half-court set."
Tip-off between the Lady Cougars and Eagles is set for 6 pm on the campus of Salina South High School, with the boys’ game to follow at 7:30.
For continuing coverage of Salina South hoops all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.