By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team opened up the new year with a dominant 52-25 win over the Minneapolis Lions.
With this win, SES advances to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in league play, keeping their spot atop the NCAA while Minneapolis falls to 1-7 overall.
Southeast began the night slowly, but held the Lions to just two points throughout the first four minutes of the contest while they settled into a rhythm.
“Playing solid defense was very important early because we knew we were going to be a little rusty after the long layoff,” SES coach Trenton Douglas said. “We wanted to really get out and pressure the ball to create some easy opportunities.”
That pressure proved to be a big part of the winning formula for the Trojans, who forced Minneapolis to cough up the ball 20 times, cashing in repeatedly on the other end with easy transition buckets.
“Ball pressure and double teams really sped them up and allowed us to force turnovers or quick shots tonight,” Douglas said. “We have some long, athletic kids, and giving them an opportunity to scramble and trap can really work for us.”
Southeast was led tonight by a duo of double-digit scorers in Luke Gebhardt and Eli Sawyers, who dropped 15 and 14 respectively.
SES poured on the points early, taking a 30-10 lead into halftime and never looking back.
“When we move the ball well and don’t let it stick in one spot we’re a very good offensive team,” Douglas said. “If we’re sharing the ball and finding open cutters we’re difficult to guard.”
The Trojan defense played well from wire to wire, allowing just one Lion in Colby Rice, who led Minneapolis with seven points, to score more than two buckets all night.
Minneapolis will travel to Valley Heights next Tuesday while the ninth-ranked Trojans return home to take on Clay Center.
For the full stream of both SES wins from tonight, click HERE.