By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After cruising through their first four games of the season, the Southeast of Saline girls’ basketball team received their first real test of the year on Thursday and passed with flying colors knocking off 4th-ranked Hillsboro 45-40.
With this win, the Lady Trojans stay undefeated at 5-0 while Hillsboro falls to 4-1.
From start to finish these ranked foes stayed in each other's sights, with no more than six points separating the two after each quarter.
“This was a back-and-forth battle and you never really felt comfortable,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “We knew this was going to be this way, they have good scorers and they always had an answer.”
Once again, Southeast had to contend with the size of a larger post in Zaylee Werth and did not seem phased, holding the six-footer to just six points throughout the contest.
“We talked about how physical Werth would be but we limited their second chance points and by pushing the ball up the court we made them get back and took them out of their element,” Flax said. “She’s going to get to the basket and there were times when we bailed her out but I thought we did a great job defensively tonight.”
The Lady Trojans also neutralized Hillsboro standout Savannah Shahan, who came into the game averaging 23 points but left with just six for the homestanding Trojans.
“Everybody knew their role,” she said. “We weren’t going to be able to help as much and defensively we’re very bought into what we need to do. We’re so challenged with our size that we can’t just outscore people, we have to do things the right way.”
SES also received the benefit of several extra possessions won by the Lady Trojan's unique and scrappy form of hustle.
“Fighting for 50/50 balls and rebounds is part of our program now,” Smith said. “I don’t ask them to do those things anymore that’s just what we do. Those are things that get your momentum going.”
When all was said and done Southeast was led by another ten-point night from Lexi Jacobson, with seven different Lady Trojans chipping in.
“They had smaller guards defending Lexi so we started picking on them,” she said. “We decided at the half that we were going to run some plays for her and when they changed personnel we went to Reagan. Our girls are very smart about seeing matchups and everybody did their job.”
Next up, SES will turn their attention to a short road trip to Salina where they will resume league play and take on rival Sacred Heart on Monday.
For continuing coverage of Lady Trojan basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.