By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline Trojans will travel to Hesston for a showdown with the top-seeded Swathers on Friday at 8pm.
SES enters this contest with an overall record of 14-7 and fresh off of a 70-49 win over Ellsworth while Hesston comes in at 18-1 following a 60-22 win over Halstead.
While these sub-state games are supposed to take place at “neutral sites” the luck of the draw has gifted Hesston with home court advantage in this game.
“This will be the biggest crowd we’ve played against all season for sure so we can’t get shell-shocked,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We have to continue to do what we’ve preached this entire season.”
These two teams met back in the first game of the season, with Hesston winning convincingly 71-34.
Since then however SES has improved greatly, and is well equipped to give the Swathers a run for their money on Friday night.
“We were awfully sloppy in that first game,” Flax said. “They were able to turn us over quite a bit and get out in transition on us. We also just took a lot of bad shots that turned into opportunities for them. Our shot selection has been much better but we’ll have to make sure that we’re efficient on Friday.”
Hesston is led by Cason Richardson who was a big contributor to the first Swather victory.
Beyond Richardson, Hesstons lineup is deep and dangerous with scoring coming from all five on the floor, and the defense stifling opponents all season long.
“What Hesston is doing on the defensive end has been absolutely incredible,” he said. “We’re going to have to share the ball and we’re going to have to be efficient. That means closing out on the glass and knocking down shots even if they’re contested.”
Tip off on Friday is scheduled for 8pm from Hesston High School with the winner advancing to face whoever comes out of the matchup between 15-5 Lyons and 15-5 Haven in the sub-state final on Saturday.
The game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or streamed on Salina Post.
Stay tuned to the Salina Post for continuing coverage of SES Trojan and Lady Trojan basketball as we continue the sub-state tournaments.