By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team kept the good times rolling last week, ringing in the new year with a 52-25 decimation of the Minneapolis Lions to advance to 5-2 on the year.
This win keeps SES in the driver's seat of the NCAA, but with a big game coming up against Clay Center, those thoughts are far from the minds of the Trojans tonight.
“I think the league title is in the back of our heads and it’s a great thing to win but we also understand that that’s not what we’re after,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We enjoy winning games but we have to continue to build towards our end goal.”
The next step towards that end goal comes on Tuesday night when the Trojans return to Gypsum for a date with the 5-2 Tigers, a team they defeated 60-45 on the road last year.
The Clay Center offense has been putting on a show this season, averaging 61 points per game through their first seven contests.
Much of that work has been done by the dynamic duo of seniors Carson Floersch and Simon Lee.
“They spread the floor and put their posts on the outside to allow them to get downhill and make decisions,” Flax said. “They’re a good basketball team and their record is well deserved. We’re going to have to be ready to guard at all five positions tonight.”
The two losses on the Tigers resume have come at the hands of a Beloit team that SES handled earlier this season, and a Wamego team currently ranked #9 in Class 4A.
With another win last week, Southeast of Saline remains ranked, checking in once again at #10 in Class 3A.
The Trojans have edged closer and closer to a full effort all season, and tonight could prove the perfect opportunity for SES to put all the pieces together against a quality opponent.
“We’re getting a lot closer to playing a full 32 minutes with no lapses,” he said. “We still have spans where we’re not really good and we have to minimize those to get to where we want to be.”
In order to come away with another victory, the Trojans will have to strap in for what could be the fastest-paced game the team has played in all season.
“We have to rebound well to take away second-chance points against Clay Center and we absolutely have to get back in transition,” Flax said. “They like to push the pace when they can and this could be a really fun, fast-paced ballgame.”
Tip-off between the Trojans and Tigers is scheduled for 7 pm at Southeast of Saline High School following the girl’s game at 6.
As always both games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.