By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team cruised through the opening round of sub-state on Tuesday, defending their home floor in a 77-48 victory over Phillipsburg.
This win is the 20th of the year for the now 20-1 Trojans while the Panther’s campaign comes to a close at 10-11.
In addition to collecting their second ten-game winning streak of the year, Southeast also equaled their highest scoring output of the season, matching a 77-point performance against Abilene in early December.
Nine different Trojans found the scoring column including five who chipped in nine or more, led by Nakari Morrical-Palmer who tallied 20 in the win.
Nakari was aided by Luke Gebhardt (12), Eli Sawyers (11), Drake Augustine (10), and Kayson Lilley (9) in a true team effort on the offensive end.
Defensively, the Trojans looked as sharp as ever, forcing 22 turnovers out of Phillipsburg while surrendering the ball just eight times themselves.
With this win, SES advances to the sub-state semifinals on Friday where they will square off with a former league foe in Russell at 7:30.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, Beloit will take on Norton at 6:00.
All future bracket games will be played at Russell High School. For continuing coverage of Trojan hoops at sub-state stay tuned to the Salina Post.