By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After cruising through their sub-state last week, the Salina Central girls basketball team will begin their state tournament run with a 6:00 Thursday tip against 8-seeded 15-7 De Soto.
The Lady Mustangs knocked off Newton and Hays with ease by final scores of 60-23 and 63-33 respectively to remain undefeated atop Class 5A at 22-0.
Unlike last year, Central will enter bracket play with the state experience of the season prior under their belts, something that is invaluable in the month of March.
“We’re a confident group and we got here last year so I don’t think we’ll be wide-eyed,” Lady Mustang head coach Chris Fear said. “There are always going to be nerves but we’re determined and we’re not just happy to be here, we want to win games. We’re confident in how we’re playing and we’re confident in each other.”
Central’s first task will be to dispatch of a De Soto team that knocked out Pittsburg 51-35 and upset Basehor-Linwood 43-36 on their path to Emporia.
“De Soto is similar to a few of the teams in our league like Andover and Andover Central from what we’ve seen on film,” Fear said. “They’re young but they’re talented and they shoot a lot of threes so if they’re on that’s going to be an issue for us.”
The Wildcat defense runs through freshman point guard Makenzie Farmer, who has done an excellent job of teeing up talented shooting guards like sophomore Addison Tower and junior Mack Carson for open triples all season long.
On the inside, speedy power forward Violet Conley has added another layer to the offense, and has been an integral part of an group that needs defenders in the paint to operate at a high level.
“They want to play fast which is good because we do as well,” he said. “We have to make sure that we cover up the three-point line, challenge every attempt, and stay be wary of their drive and kick game. We can't get caught reaching and fouling.”
On the offensive side of things, a versatile Wildcat defense could present the Lady Stangs with an early puzzle to solve, but Central has overcome every defensive look that opponents have used all season long.
“We’re not sure what we’re going to see in this game but at this time of the year we’ve seen almost everything that people have to throw at us and we’ll be able to adjust to whatever they want to try,” Fear said.
No team in Salina Central girl’s basketball history has won a state title, but after falling short last season and coming back stronger, the Lady Mustangs are playing with a new level of confidence rarely seen at this level.
“I think we truly believe that this is our year and we know that we have to go out and earn it,” Fear said. “Nothing is going to be given to us and we know we can be beaten by anyone in this tournament but I think it's going to take somebody’s best game because we’re going to play confidently.”
Tip-off between the Lady Mustangs and Wildcats is set for 6:00 on Thursday with the winner advancing to the state semis on Friday to take on 19-3 Lansing or 17-5 Emporia.
For continuing coverage of Salina Central’s run in the state tournament stay tuned to the Salina Post.