By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With the 2A semifinals fast approaching we have an all-area matchup on Thursday that will see the Bennington and Ell-Saline boys' basketball teams collide for a third meeting this season.
The 6th-ranked Bulldogs will enter this contest at 17-4 after dispatching Northern Heights 71-21 on Monday, while the Cardinals come in at 13-8 fresh off a 65-36 victory over Herington.
These rivals have two games on the books already this year, and both went Bennington's way with the Bulldogs claiming victories of 57-28 back in December, and 54-45 in February.
While the Bulldogs will enter this game as the undoubted favorites, that dynamic actually removes some of the pressure from the Cardinals locker room, and Ell-Saline hopes that will help them play loose in this pivotal game.
"We took care of business and beat a Herington team that we should have beat, now we can have fun and enjoy the ride. Bennington is the favorite to win our sub-state. This is a great time for us to go execute our game plan, play free, battle for 32 minutes, and see what happens."
On the other side of the bracket, the 1-seed in Chase County (18-3) will take on the 4-seed in Sacred Heart (12-9) with the winners meeting in the championship game at 5:30 on Saturday.
Tip-off between the Cardinals and Bulldogs is scheduled for 6:00 on Thursday at Hillsboro High School.
For continuing coverage of both Bennington and Ell-Saline throughout the tournament, stay tuned to the Salina Post.