By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team battled down the stretch but couldn’t overcome a 16-4 first-quarter hole, falling to Royal Valley 60-52 in the state semifinals.
The Trojans will take on Hays TMP at noon on Saturday in the third-place game while the Panthers advance to play Hesston for the state title at 4:00.
Royal Valley came screaming out of the gates offensively and closed out extremely well on Southeast shooters, forcing the Trojans into five missed threes in the first quarter to take a 12-point lead into the first break.
“We let their length bother us a bit and struggled to get downhill in gaps in that first quarter,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said.
The Trojans fought back, and actually outscored the Panthers the rest of the way thanks to a 22-15 fourth quarter, but the damage was done and the SES comeback fell short.
“We definitely didn’t give up, we kept getting in it then allowed a bucket or two to let them stretch it,” Flax said. “I saw a toughness out of Nakari that I’ve been waiting for and he was great all night.”
Morrical-Palmer led Southeast in the loss with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, defending well against some of the toughest bigs in Class 3A.
SES also held Emporia State commit Nachs Wahwassuck to 4-17 shooting, but it was Brady Klotz who came up big for the Panthers with 21 points in the win.
While this loss hurts for a Trojan group that has come so far this season, SES will have to lock in and refocus tomorrow for a tough third-place contest with Hays TMP.
“Tomorrow is important for our program,” he said. “We’ve had a great season and we want to end it on a high note.”
For coverage of SES in the third-place game on Saturday, stay tuned to the Salina Post.