By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team is moving on to the sub-state final following a resounding 40-27 defeat of the Beloit Lady Trojans.
This win is the 12th straight for the #7 ranked team in Class 3A and marks Southeast’s third victory over Beloit this year as the orange Trojans campaign comes to a close at 10-12.
SES stumbled out of the gates as Beloit held them to just one made field goal in the first quarter, taking a 10-6 lead into the second.
From there, Southeast mustered a 24-12 run that spanned the second and third quarters, ripping the lead away after halftime and never looking back to advance to the championship game on Saturday.
The Lady Trojans were led by Reagan Goetz and Karsyn Schlesener who combined for 25 big points, including 12 in the second half.
After losing the turnover battle in the first half, SES turned up the heat, forcing Beloit to cough up the ball 12 times in the second while surrendering it just three times themselves.
Southeast also tightened the clamps on Beloit’s post players, allowing just three made field goals in the second and third quarters.
Addison Budke led Beloit in the loss with 8 points as SES held the entire roster to under 10.
Southeast of Saline will take on the Riley County Falcons at 7 pm on Saturday.
The Falcons are fresh off back-to-back upset wins over Minneapolis and Smoky Valley, and should prove to be a formidable foe for the Trojans as the two duke it out for a trip to Hutch on Saturday.
For continuing coverage of both SES basketball teams in the sub-state championships, stay tuned to the Salina Post.