By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With just one game to go before the sub-state tournament, the Southeast of Saline girl’s basketball team will return to Gypsum to host Republic County, looking to secure at least a share of this year’s league title.
The Lady Trojans come into this final contest at 16-3 while the Lady Buffs will look to close out their year with an unlikely upset, checking in at a winless 0-19.
With a win over Beloit last Friday, Minneapolis has secured at least a slice of this year’s NCAA pie, but with a win over Republic County on Tuesday, Southeast can join them, and earn a portion of a third-straight league title.
This game will also be critical to put the Lady Trojans in a good position for sub-state, having been off since last Tuesday, and without any more games on the calendar before bracket play begins.
“Since we’ve had such a long break it’s really important that we keep our kids in because we don’t play for another week and we don’t want to come out flat,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “Keeping our focus will be important and we can’t look at Republic County’s record because they’re one of the best 0-19 teams that we’ve seen.”
The first meeting between these two back in late January wasn’t even a contest, as the Lady Trojans rolled on the road 47-29.
“We got off to a slow start in that first meeting but we really exploded in the second quarter when we pressed and got out on the run,” Smith said. “They have some weapons and they can get some things done, they’ve just struggled to put it all together in a full game.”
For their part in all of this, Republic County has lost all but two games this season, both to Beloit, by double digits, but has had quarters where they have shown their capabilities.
The true focus for SES in this game will be bouncing back after a shooting slump at Ellsworth that followed three of their best offensive performances of the year.
“We have to stop living and dying at the three-point line because we probably won’t see another zone after this game,” Smith said. “We have to work on getting to and finishing at the rim. Sometimes we drive and we’re just hoping for a call but those don’t come every night so we have to finish.”
Tip-off between the Lady Trojans and Buffs is set for 6:00 at Southeast of Saline High School, with the boys’ game to follow at 7:30.
Both contests can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post.