By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After being swept in Salina to start their week, the Southeast of Saline basketball teams will return to Gypsum on Friday night to battle the Irish and Lady Irish of Chapman.
Girls Game: SE of Saline (9-4) vs. Chapman (5-8)
While the Lady Trojans have owned this series recently, winning each of the last four matchups, Chapman has drawn closer and closer with each passing game, falling by just one in a 43-42 battle last time around.
Each team has been playing good basketball as of late, but both will enter this contest fresh off a stumble, as Southeast fell to Sacred Heart on Tuesday while Chapman dropped their meeting with Beloit.
While the Lady Irish come in at 5-8, Chapman has been playing its best basketball as of late, winning three in a row prior to their Tusday loss to Beloit.
“Chapman is really long, quick, and athletic, and teams like that can really hurt us,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “We’re going to have to take care of the ball and be smarter passers tonight.”
In order to avoid starting a losing streak for the first time all season, Southeast will need to stay aggressive on offense, and not fall in love with the jump shot the way they have in recent weeks.
“We still need to attack the rim more and do a better job of getting to the line and getting people in foul trouble,” Smith said. “We’ll need to rebound at a high level and offensively we’ll have to find a way around those long arms.”
Tip-off between the Lady Trojans and Irish is set for 6:00 in Gypsum.
Boys Game: SE of Saline (9-4) vs. Chapman (7-6)
Much like on the girl’s side, the Trojans have handled their business in each of their last four meetings with the Irish, most recently in a 66-42 affair last season.
Both teams have undergone serious change since then, however, and this will be one of the best Chapman squads Southeast has faced, entering with a winning record and having won four of their last six.
“Chapman is a little more skilled through the board offensively,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “In years past they haven’t had as many kids who can create but now they have a lot more kids capable of offensive production.”
The Irish have done most of their damage on offense, led by all-conference star Kelan Gruver, who has been a handful for opposing defenses all year.
“They’ve been over 70 points four times this year and they’ve been over 60 another 3-4 times, we’ll be challenged defensively to contain them. They play with good pace, they don’t try to do too much and the Gruver kid can really score it. He’s added the element of going to the rim and we’ll have to do a good job on him.”
The boy’s game is scheduled to follow the girls with tip-off set for approximately 7:30.
Broadcast Information
- Location: SE of Saline HS
- Radio: KINA (910 AM/107.FM)
- Stream: Link Below