By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With just four games remaining in their regular season, the Salina South girl’s basketball team has emerged from one of the toughest stretches of their campaign and will look to build off a win last Friday when they host Newton on Tuesday night.
Both the Lady Cougars and Lady Railers come into this contest at 6-10, with the proposition of a .500 season remaining on the table for the winner.
After the SIT, South battled a murderer's row of Maize South (13-3), Hutch (12-4), and Derby (15-2), before defeating Haysville Campus 55-19 to close out the four-game stretch.
“Our girls have battled through an incredibly difficult portion of our schedule and have come out a much better basketball team than before,” South head coach Justin Ebert said. “Our offensive effectiveness has taken a big step forward in the past week and we hope to continue to value the basketball and create good opportunities to score.”
To continue playing their best basketball in these final four games, the Lady Cougars will need to take that offensive efficiency, and pair it with excellence on the glass, something South has lacked in stretches this year.
“As a team, we have to improve our rebounding effort on both the offensive and defensive ends,” Ebert said. “We have taken a step back in that area over the past month and really need to emphasize the importance of clearing the boards and getting second chance opportunities.”
This game with Newton will be an excellent opportunity for South to put those things to the test, in a rematch of a 36-30 win for the Lady Cougars earlier this season.
“Both teams are different versions of themselves than we were in early January,” he said. “We’ve become a much more effective offensive team and have settled into our roles. Both teams play incredibly hard defense and create pressure. Creating and limiting turnovers will be a major factor in which team comes away with a win.”
Tip-off between the Lady Cougars and Railers is set for 6:00 at Salina South High School, with the boys’ game to follow at 7:30.
For continuing coverage of Salina South hoops all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.