By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team will hit the road for Beloit in search of their sixth straight win as they get set to take on the 11-5 Trojans.
At a perfect 6-0 in league play, SES has put a little distance between themselves and the perennial powers of Sacred Heart and Beloit, sweeping the Knights and looking to do the same to the Trojans on Tuesday night.
While SES has not won a league title since 2007, the Trojans remain laser-focused on their ultimate goal of getting to the state tournament in March.
“A league title would certainly lift this team's spirits even higher and the guys have put in a lot of work for what would be a great accomplishment but we’ve had larger goals on our mind this season and that’s not going to change,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said.
The last time the Trojans clashed was in early December when a young Beloit team was still getting to grips with their rotations and easing their young stars into bigger minutes.
“Similar to the first Sacred Heart game Beloit was on the road and we were able to rush their shots and use our pressure to create turnovers,” Flax said. “We did some really good things but we fully anticipate more poise and maturity from them in this game.”
One of the biggest differences between that Beloit team and this one has been the emergence of big-man Bryce Beisner, who has given opponents fits in the paint since the break.
“Beisner is playing a lot better lately,” he said. “He’s finishing well around the rim and their post-entry passes are a lot better than they were early. They have a handful of guys that are shooting it well from the outside and if you overhelp inside they can really hurt you on the perimeter.”
SES will need all hands on deck in the first of two tough matchups before sub-state, with the 14-1 Ellinwood Eagles on the schedule next week.
This game will also present the Trojans with a chance to push Beloit to arm's length in their sub-state bracket, having already secured a top-two spot for the tournament.
Tip-off for part two of the Trojan War is slated for 7 pm following the girl’s game at 6.
As always both games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or streamed live on the Salina Post.