By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The South Cougars and Lady Cougars will kick off their sub-state tournament runs this week with games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The girls team will be up first on Tuesday, entering the tournament as the two-seed with an overall record of 8-11.
The first round opponent for the Lady Cougars will be 6-11 Great Bend, who enter sub-state as the three seed in the bracket.
The Panthers started the season well, winning three of their first five, but sputtered to the finish line dropping 10 of their last 13 games.
Tip off for this game is scheduled for 7pm at South High School, with the winner advancing to the bracket final to face the winner of the 1-4 matchup featuring 15-4 Salina Central and 6-13 Hays.
The spotlight will shift to the boys team on Wednesday when the South Cougars look for their third win over the Central Mustangs this season.
The Cougars enter the tournament ranked fifth in the state with an overall record of 14-3, but will be the two-seed in the bracket thanks to a placement with 19-0 Hays.
Central comes in as the three-seed with an overall record of 6-13, finishing their season with an impressive 70-63 victory over 14-7 Ark City.
South has already beaten their cross-town rival twice this year, taking a 66-61 win in overtime in game one, and a more convincing 68-55 victory back in early February.
The Mustangs are led by a pair of seniors in Reed McHenry and Caden Kickhaefer, and neutralizing that duo will be a big key for the Cougars on Wednesday.
The winner of this game will advance to the tournament final to face whoever wins between 19-0 Hays and 4-13 Great Bend.
Stay tuned to the Salina Post for continuing coverage of the Cougars and Lady Cougars throughout the sub-state tournament.