By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
When the 3A boy’s KBCA rankings were released last week, the top of the list caught everyone’s attention.
To the surprise of few, the top spot was given to the defending state champions in Hesston, who have posted an unreal record of 70-4 over the last three seasons.
At #2, a Southeast of Saline team that finished third at state last season, without the aid of a single senior, returning 100% of its scoring for the 2022-23 campaign.
On opening night, these two foes will meet on the campus of Southeast of Saline, for an explosive season opener that has all eyes in the state of Kansas fixed on Gypsum.
The Trojans and Swathers are far from strangers on the court, gridiron, diamond, or otherwise.
Over the years the two have played in a number of thrilling contests, many of which have come in the postseason, where SES and Hesston have taken turns eliminating one another from playoff contention.
As a result, this game means more than your traditional opening round scrap, and with the right to be named the #1 team in Class 3A next week on the line, those who find themselves in Gypsum tonight should be in for a treat.
With both teams looking to knock off the offseason rust, the start to this game will be imperative, and SES will look to their stellar starting five of Drake Augustine, Danny Kejr, Luke Gebhardt, Nakari Morrical-Palmer, and Eli Sawyers to light the fire for the Trojans.
On the flip side of that coin, the Swathers return the lion's share of their scoring from the 2021-22 season and should be primed to make a deep run again this year.
While there is still a ton of basketball ahead, this game will set not only the top spot in next week's KBCA rankings but also the tone for two teams that could very well see each other in postseason play down the road.
Tip-off between the Trojans and Swathers is set for 7 pm at Southeast of Saline high school following the girl’s game at 6:00.
For continuing coverage of Trojan hoops all season long stay tuned to the Salina Post and follow us on Twitter @spostsports.