By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With two months of their 2022-23 season in the books, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team has established itself as one of the best in Class 3A, and will roll into the final month of the season at 12-1.
The Trojans have spent the entire campaign in the top two of the KBCA rankings, and hold wins over #1 Hesston, #4 Abilene, and former #1 Hillsboro, as well as several other quality wins over opponents primed to make deep sub-state runs.
At the top of this Trojan team sits a two-headed monster of Eli Sawyers and Nakari Morrical-Palmer, who combine to average 32.5 points and 15 rebounds on any given night.
What makes Southeast so dangerous, however, is their depth, where the Trojans run between 10-12 deep, wearing out opponents with one of the most capable benches in Class 3A and playing their selfless brand of basketball all around.
“Our willingness to share the basketball has been the best thing I’ve seen from these guys this season,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We’re a very good passing team and we continue to move the ball most nights, that makes us difficult to guard, and when you mix in how good our rebounding has been it’s been tough for teams to get second-chance opportunities.”
Southeast returned everyone from their state squad a season ago, and another year of experience has brought other benefits that have paid dividends off the floor as well as on it.
“I’ve been a little surprised with our leadership this year,” Flax said. “There were some guys that I wasn't sold on as leaders who have really stepped up and our guys have embraced them. I’ve also been surprised with the play of Drake Augustine, he’s really elevated himself as a defender and he brings an energy that’s contagious.”
The Trojans have also cleaned up one of their only problem areas from early in the year, with everyone on the team now willing to crash the glass on any given possession.
“I’ve seen a lot of growth in our willingness to rebound,” he said. “Early on we were okay in that area but it’s gotten a lot better and it’s not just coming from Nakari. We have guys crashing the offensive boards to buy us possessions and I think that’s really been a big improvement from last year.”
While SES works to tighten the margins between great and elite ahead of the sub-state tournament in late February, the focus in the Trojan locker room has never been sharper, and with a full roster of returning veterans, this team knows what is on the table, and what is required to get there.
“I think there’s a confidence and a belief that this team can make a deep run but I think now more than ever there’s an understanding that we’re human,” Flax said. “We like where we’re at and we think we’re playing pretty good basketball, but we also know that nobody is going to hand us anything because of a ranking or a name, we have to go and take things.”
The Trojans will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on a league rival in the Sacred Heart Knights at home.
For continuing coverage of Trojan hoops all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.