By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team will look to build more momentum after defeating the Hesston Swathers 41-33 in their season opener on Friday night.
“We played well in a very physical game,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “We got outrebounded but we did some good things on the glass and on the offensive side we did a good job of getting good shots up.”
The Lady Trojans will now turn their attention to a perennial power in Smoky Valley, who started their season with a bang, knocking off 4A Abilene 55-34.
This will be the second of six tough matchups for SES ahead of the Christmas break, but in addition to an opportunity to build their resume, these games are a great measuring stick for the team.
“I am definitely a fan of going out and playing some good teams early,” Smith said. “It’s nice to win a game by 20 once in a while but it’s more constrictive to play somebody and see where you’re at.”
The new-look Trojans have something that previous renditions of the team did not, a solid core of veteran returners.
That experience and leadership has made things much easier in preparing the team for big games like this one, and SES is playing with more confidence as a result.
“Last year there were matchups going into games that we didn’t like and we don’t have that this year,” Smith said. “All of our kids can get out and guard and we’re pressuring well.”
Smoky Valley returns a lot of talent from last year's 13-8 squad, and will give Southeast another good test on Tuesday night.
“It’s going to be a fast-paced, physical game,” Smith said. “We need to play how we can which is fast but under control. They’re long and rangy so we have to take good shots and we can’t shoot into their hands.”
Smoky Valley’s offense has three-point shooters all over the floor and the holes created after graduation appear to have already been filled.
For the Trojans, overcoming their size disadvantage and getting to the rim will be big keys in this mid-week matchup.
“We have to be disciplined on defense, box out well on the glass, and understand when to get out and run,” she said. “We can’t just rely on outside shots, we have to really take it to them.”
Tip-off between Southeast and Smoky Valley is set for 6 pm at Smoky Valley high school.
As always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or streamed on the Salina Post courtesy of Eagle Radio.