By Jeremy Obermeyer
Salina Post Contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys’ and girls’ basketball teams traveled to Clay Center on Friday night as the girls defeated Clay Center 54-46 while the boys dropped a 72-63 decision.
Girls: SE of Saline 54, Clay Center 46
The young Lady Trojans continue to grow as the season progresses, handing the #5 ranked team in class 4A, just their second loss of the season.
Clay Center owned a narrow lead through all the first quarter and the first part of the second quarter until Abigail Pearson gave the Lady Trojans their first lead on a right-handed layup with 6:45 left in the first half.
From that point on, there were seven lead changes and one tie until Southeast carried a narrow 25-24 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, the lead teetered back and forth, with neither team leading by more than five points until Southeast started to pull away late in the game for the eight-point victory.
“This was just a hard-fought, gritty game,” stated Head Coach Shauna Smith, “A possession by possession type of game. That’s what we talked about throughout the week, and that’s how this game was going to be."
Kyiah Samuelson scored a new career high, as she and Pearson led all scorers with 16 points apiece, while Lily Edwards led Clay Center with 14 points.
Southeast will travel to Sterling next week for the Sterling Invitational Tournament as the #1 seed and will take on Sterling in a 7:30 pm tipoff.
Boys: SE of Saline 63, Clay Center 72
Winning three out of their last four games, the Southeast of Saline boys are still growing in their own rights as they took on the #7 ranked team in class 4A.
Clay Center claimed the lead from wire to wire, but the Trojans were able to keep their deficit between four and six points, before the first half ended with a 41-33 Tiger lead.
In the second half, Clay Center distanced themselves from Southeast by as many as 13 points. Southeast went on a couple of mini runs, but it wouldn’t quite be enough as the Trojans fell by 9 points.
“They have a lot weapons” stated head coach Francis Flax, “One of the things I wrote on the board tonight was “Let’s take a step forward”, and I believe that we took a step forward, even with a 9-point loss.”
Gannon Jacobson led all scorers with 26 points, while Owen Bailey added 21 points. For Clay Center, Weston Hammond led the Tigers with 17 points, followed by Owen Craig with 14 points.
The loss drops Southeast to 3-6 overall, while Clay Center advances to 7-2.
Up next for the Trojans will be the Sterling Invitational tournament, as they will be the #5 seed, and play Hugoton on Tuesday in a 3:00 tipoff.