By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline Lady Trojan basketball team (4-4) will open the Sterling Invitational against the Hutch Trinity Lady Celtics (2-6) today at 5pm.
SES is coming off of a big 60-30 win over the Beloit Trojans while the Celtics enter the tournament on a three game losing skid.
While previous Southeast teams have struggled in this tournament, SES head coach Shauna Smith is optimistic about this years group.
“You always want to get to that championship game which to my knowledge is something that SES has never done,” she said. “So that’s one of our goals, but to do that we need to get up and beat some really good teams.”
Hutch Trinity is led by senior Hayley Hughs, who is averaging over 20 points per game this season and surpassed 1,000 career points just one week ago.
The Trojans will also have to be aggressive against a defense that plays very well on the perimeter.
“They’ve always been very long and rangy,” Smith said. “Last year they ran a 1-3-1 so we’ll have to be ready to deal with that and be intentional about attacking the rim and not getting caught standing around the perimeter.”
Tip off for tonight's game is scheduled for 5pm at Sterling High School and can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM).
With Lyons out of the tournament and pool play replacing the bracket SES will face Sterling on Thursday regardless of tonight’s result.
Be sure to stay tuned to Salina Post for continuing coverage of both SES teams as the Sterling Invitational rolls on.