By Tyler Henry
Salina Post contributor
The Sacred Heart and Bennington girls basketball teams will square off tonight in a win or go home sub-state quarterfinal at Bennington high school.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season, who each come into sub-state at 11-9 in this 4-5 matchup.
Both teams have dealt with injuries and adversity this year, but each will be at full strength in what should be an area playoff game to remember.
“Out mindset is strong,” Bennington head coach Tracy Piepho said. “The team is ready to leave it all on the floor and we always talk about taking one game at a time. Tonight we must beat a good Sacred Heart team who comes in red hot.”
While the Bulldogs stumbled a bit on their way to the finish line, falling in four of their last six games, the Knights have been playing some of their best basketball lately, and enter bracket play on a six-game win streak.
“I am very happy with the growth of this team from December till now,” Sacred Heart coach Carl Hines said. “We will have the same mindset we have always had, the next game is the most important. We would like to play our best basketball of the season now when it matters the most.”
Much of that success for the Knights has come on the shoulders of Katie Weiss, who was the only player to average double figures for Sacred Heart throughout the regular season.
“I don't know we can slow Weiss down, she's a good player,” Piepho said. “She's very aggressive, we will rotate multiple people on her to hopefully wear her down, we hope we can contain her.”
Bennington has also relied on a lone double-digit scorer in Kolbie Bartlett, but has spread the ball out well down the stretch.
“Bennington is very well-coached and disciplined,” Hines said. “They are fast and athletic on the perimeter. We have to try to contain their guards and win the rebounding game.”
Sacred Heart will once again look to hang their hats on defense after holding their last seven opponents to under 50 points.
“I look for big things from us on offense tonight,” Piepho said. “We need to be patient and go inside out. Our posts need to get touches, I think we may have a bit of an advantage inside and if our transition game is on, we will be hard to stop.”
Tip-off between the Lady Knights and Bulldogs is set for 7 pm at Bennington High School.
The winner of this game will advance to the sub-state semis to face either 18-2 Valley Heights or 0-20 Republic County.
For more on both teams throughout the sub-state tournament stay tuned to the Salina Post.