By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Sacred Heart and Southeast of Saline squared off in an all-NCAA showdown on Tuesday night, with the Knights and Lady Knights getting the better of their biggest rivals in a road sweep.
Girls: Sacred Heart 47, SE of Saline 45
The opener of this two-game set stayed close from the jump to the final buzzer, with neither team gaining a real advantage throughout.
Both defenses were on display early, but eight first-half threes, split evenly between the two teams, kept things interesting in the scoring column.
At the half, the Lady Trojans held a 25-22 lead, but that was quickly erased at the free throw line, where the Lady Knights converted on all four of their attempts while SES went 0-4 in the frame.
The two sides combined for just six made field goals in the fourth quarter, but by virtue of two Addie Lee three-pointers and a pair of Edyn Sharpton free throws, Sacred Heart pulled away for the 47-45 win.
Lee (18) and Sharpton (12) led the way on a night where all 47 Lady Knight points came from the starting five.
Reagan Duran posted a new career high, scoring 20 points in a valiant losing effort.
With this result, Sacred Heart improves to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in league play, while Southeast slides to 5-3 and 1-2 respectively.
Boys: #4 Sacred Heart 63, SE of Saline 45
On the boy’s side Sacred Heart came out of the gates hot and never looked back, turning a ten-point first quarter lead into an 18-point victory.
The starting five dealt most of the damage, accounting for 25 of the Knight’s 39 first half points.
By the end of the third quarter, that group was on the bench for Sacred Heart, as the reserves helped the Knights get the win over the finish line 63-45.
Will Tuttle led the charge for Sacred Heart, scoring a game-high 21 points in just three quarters.
Kolton Sprague looked sharp off the bench, adding 11 as the only other Knight in double figures.
Lyrik Lilley (11) and Adam Thiel (10) were the only two Trojans to score in double digits.
With this result the Knights remain undefeated at 9-0 overall and 3-0 in NCAA play while SES drops to 1-7 and 0-3.
You can watch both games on demand below.