By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Southeast of Saline basketball teams traveled to Hillsboro on Thursday night for a bonus Trojan War.
Hillsboro would take both games, defeating SES 44-25 on the girl’s side and 62-43 on the boy’s side.
Girls: SE of Saline 25, Hillsboro 44
The first quarter of this game was one of the lowest scoring affairs across the state, with just four total field goals and a 6-5 Hillsboro lead at the end of the frame.
Both teams picked things up from there, and behind 12 second-half points for Kyiah Samuelson and Annabell Villalaz, Southeast pulled ahead to take a 17-15 lead at halftime.
Unfortunately for SES, the Lady Trojans in purple would score just eight points for the remainder of the game, including a lone three in the fourth quarter, as Hillsboro pulled away in a dominant second half.
Samuelson finished with 11 of Southeast’s 25 points, and was the only member of the purple and white in double figures.
Hillsboro was led in scoring by Amyah Werth (15), Ella Potucek (12), and Talia Jost (8).
SES falls to 2-2 on the year at the Christmas break while Hillsboro improves to 3-3.
Boys: SE of Saline 43, Hillsboro 62
The boy’s side of this doubleheader saw Southeast struggle right out of the gate, scoring just eight points and finding themselves down 23-8 after the first quarter.
Both sides of the ball would improve in the second, and SES managed to whittle down the lead a bit, but the damage was done as Hillsboro pulled away down the stretch in a 19-point win.
Just four Trojans found the scoring column in this game, led by a herculean effort from Gannon Jacobson, who dropped a new career-high 17 points in this game.
Jacobson was joined in double figures by Owen Bailey (11), but the rest of the team chipped in just five total points on two made field goals.
Hillsboro had six total players in scoring including three in double figures, led by Lincoln Wichert (18), Nash Dickinson (17), and Easton Shahan (11).
Southeast’s first win of the season will have to come in the new year as they fall to 0-4, Hillsboro meanwhile moves to 4-2.
Both SES teams will be back in action on January 3rd to open a 3-game homestand against Republic County.