By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After pulling off the unthinkable and eliminating the three-time defending state champs in Hesston on Thursday, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team will return to Gypsum tonight in search of one more win to punch their ticket to state.
Standing in their way is the 3-seed in Santa Fe Trail (13-8), who will once again act as the home team despite playing at Southeast of Saline (13-9).
Like Southeast, this year’s Chargers have done some of their best work in the postseason, thrashing Osage City 68-37 before squeaking by Burlington 57-56.
“Santa Fe Trail works through their big kid inside and they’ve got a few guys that can get downhill and shoot the basketball,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “They switch between zone and man but at this point it’s more about us being us and competing for 32 minutes.”
The Trojans meanwhile, have finally found their footing on the offensive end, dropping 70 or more three times in the last seven games, including in a confident quarterfinal win over Council Grove.
“We’re taking great shots right now and we’re finding out that if we go downhill with more purpose and control we get a lot more out of it,” Flax said. “Better shots at the rim, free throws, or better kick outs, we’ve just had more purpose offensively.”
While Southeast's offense has been firing on all cylinders of late, it’s the defense that’s continued to win them games, best punctuated in the gritty win over Hesston on Thursday.
“We’ll have to be good defensively again and we’re going to have to continue to ride that,” Flax said. “I’d like to see us take advantage of opportunities to push the ball against Santa Fe Trail and we have to defend and rebound at a high level.”
Tip-off between the Trojans and Chargers is set for 5:00 at Southeast of Saline High School.