By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The SES girls basketball team (5-4), fresh off a big win over Hutch Trinity will play the Sterling Black Bears (10-0) in their final pool play game of the Sterling Invitational.
With an unblemished record and several quality wins, Sterling enters tonight's game as the top team in 2A and the third ranked team in the entire state of Kansas.
While the Black Bears will challenge the Trojans, SES is prepared for a challenge like this thanks to tough games early in their season.
“I think they are very comparable to Clay Center but I think the difference is that everyone on the floor for Sterling can score at any time,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said.
Southeast will have to be sound defensively, as an even scoring spread and good distribution for Sterling makes them unpredictable when they run their offense.
“They’ve got a really good point guard,” Smith said. “She runs the team but they can all make you pay if you help out wrong.”
While SES has held opponents to very low scoring performances in the past, the Trojans will need to put enough points on the board to keep up with the Black Bears.
“Defensively we need to know where people are and rebound well and offensively we can’t let them speed us up,” she said. “We trust our defense but we know we’re going to have to score at least in the 50s to keep up with them.”
Tipoff is scheduled for 4:45 at Sterling High School, with the winner advancing to the championship game on Friday, and the loser playing in the third place game before that.
Tonight's game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) and be sure to stay tuned to Salina Post for continued coverage of both SES teams as we approach the end of the Sterling Invitational.