By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Solomon Gorillas and Bennington Bulldogs will renew their rivalry on Friday in a rematch of a 74-45 Solomon victory back in December.
These teams are much closer now on paper than they were in that 2021 meeting, as Solomon enters this game at 13-5 and Bennington comes in at 10-8.
The Gorillas began their season at 8-2, but sputtered out of the rankings before going on a dominant five-game winning streak that they will carry into this game.
“Our main focus is on the fine details,” Solomon head coach Kyler Stein said. "We want a great shot instead of a good shot, and we want to make the defense guard multiple actions. Defensively we have improved tremendously but we want to continue to improve our pressure defense and rotations.”
While Solomon is playing some of their best basketball recently, this game will be much closer as the Gorillas are without Caden Acosta for the foreseeable future.
“I think we are getting to our peak, but we haven’t reached it yet,” Stein said. “These next two games will prepare us really well for sub-state. We've been dealing with adversity all year and have had it strike again losing one of our best players, but we have to continue working towards our goal.”
On the Bennington side of things, the Bulldogs have been heating up as well thanks in large part to Eli Lawson. The sophomore superstar has been averaging an absurd 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and has helped Bennington to wins in five of their last six games.
“They have improved tremendously,” he said. “They are a very good team that presents some challenges we haven't faced in a long time. They have a very dominant post and some very good shooters and play a great inside-out game.”
The most recent of those wins for the Bulldogs came against a very talented Berean Academy team, and Bennington will be hungry for revenge tonight against their biggest area rival.
The Bulldogs will need their supporting cast to continue to impress around Lawson tonight while Solomon will have to find ways to control the pace to get the season sweep.
“We have to be able to push the tempo of the game and make them play at our pace,” Stein said. “Taking away their bigs has been a huge point of our preparation, they run a lot through them. If we come out and play with great energy and effort and are the tougher, more physical team tonight I like our chances.”
Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Gorillas is set for 7 pm following the girl’s game at 6.
For more coverage of both teams at the sub-state tournament, stay tuned to the Salina Post.