By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team will return home tonight to take on the 6-8 Chapman Fighting Irish after winning an unprecedented 20th straight game in league play on Tuesday.
SES comes into this contest at 11-3 overall, ranked as the #8 team in Class 3A.
“The girls are learning that it’s fun to win and starting to understand how important league games are,” Trojan head coach Shauna Smith said. “Last year the league was down a little bit but this year it’s much improved and I’m proud of the girls for coming out and taking care of those games so far.”
The Lady Irish come into this game at 6-8, and have already exceeded expectations following a rough 1-17 campaign last year.
Much of that success has been found on the defensive end as Chapman has held their opponents to under 40 points per game this season.
“This is already one of the best defensive teams I’ve ever had,” Irish head coach Michael Wahlmeier said. “We still have our ups and downs on offense so having a consistent presence on the other side has been good.”
Both of these teams have come a long way since meeting in a 34-24 rock fight last season, and this game will look much different than any previous matchups between the two.
“They’re a year older and they really lacked experience last year,” Smith said. “They’re all much improved and they’re very long and lengthy. They have a new coach with a new mentality and they’ve really bought into what he wants to do.”
A great deal of that leadership and experience is featured in the inside-out duo of Shannon Anderson and Maya Kirkpatrick, who have done a lot of the heavy lifting offensively for the Irish this year.
“Those two have been huge,” Wahlmeier said. “Shannon was struggling early on offense but early in December her confidence has grown and she’s turned into a really nice post player for us. Maya does a great job of finding everyone but she and Shannon have a special connection.”
To contain Chapman, Southeast will need to find a way to slow that pair down, especially Anderson, who should have a sizable advantage over SES in the paint tonight.
“Kirkpatrick and Anderson always know where each other are at on the court so we have to control them and keep them off the offensive glass,” Smith said.
As for the Irish, slowing down the pace and hanging onto the basketball will prove critical against a Southeast offense that now averages 60 points a game.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” Wahlmeier said. “They have good shooters on the perimeter and they like to run in transition so we have to be solid on defense to give ourselves any hope to stay with them.”
Tip-off between the Trojans and Irish is scheduled for 6 pm with the boys game to follow at 7.
As always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.