By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Trojans and Lady Trojans made short work of Republic County to close out their season on a high note and secure some hardware in the process.
Girls Game: SE of Saline 52, Republic County 27
For a fourth consecutive season, the Lady Trojans have secured at least a share of the NCAA title, evening their league record with Beloit at 8-2.
With this win, Southeast closes out its regular season on a five-game winning streak at 15-5 while the book closes on Republic County’s campaign at 0-20.
“We got out and pressed them which isn’t something that we typically do but it’s something we wanted to work on,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “I thought we did a good job of adjusting to the way they attacked it.”
Republic County got off to a solid start but Southeast went on a big early run and never looked back, completely blanking the Buffaloes in the third quarter.
Lexi Jacobson led the Lady Trojans, tying her season high with 19 points in the win, aided by seven other teammates who chipped in at least a bucket.
Despite their pristine record, Southeast will be the 5-seed in this year’s sub-state bracket, and will open postseason play at Osage City next Tuesday.
Boys Game: SE of Saline 77, Republic County 25
On the boy’s side the Trojans routed Republic County in their widest margin of victory by far, leading by 38 at the half of an eventual 52-point win.
With this result, Southeast closes out their regular season at 11-9 overall while the Buffaloes wrap up their year at 1-19.
SES won the turnover battle in style, forcing Republic County to cough up the ball 20 times while surrendering it just three times themselves.
The Trojans were led in scoring by a trio of double-digit contributors in Owen Bailey (14), Gannon Jacobson (12), and Connor Caselman (12), who were among the ten different players to score for Southeast on the night.
On the other side, Republic County got 12 of their 25 points from Levi White, but were held to just a single bucket in both the second and third quarters as the Trojans ran away with the game.
Southeast will open sub-state play next Monday with a home game against either 8-12 Council Grove or 7-13 Halstead.