By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After rolling through their first four matchups of the 2022-23 season, the Southeast of Saline girl’s basketball team, now ranked #5 in Class 3A, will be tested against another ranked, undefeated foe.
Hillsboro (4-0) will play host to the Lady Trojans (4-0) in a rare Thursday evening tilt, where Southeast will look to overcome the #4 team in Class 2A.
While SES has seen quality opponents this season, none compare to a Hillsboro team that has outscored their first four opponents by 91 points.
“As far as the matchup is concerned this is the toughest team we’ve seen so far,” Lady Trojan head coach Shauna Smith said. “Our games with Smoky Valley are always competitive but Hillsboro is a very talented team that’s a lot like us but with more size. This should be a really good game.”
While Southeast will once again be forced to match their speed and quickness against a team with real size, the Lady Trojans have faced this challenge before, and patience has always been the key.
“We took some shots early on in our offense and we have to make our opponents guard us for longer,” Smith said. “Playing against size will be a challenge but we’ll have to contend with that and this will prepare us for the postseason.”
Another advantage that SES has found throughout the season is their newfound depth surrounding a starting five of veteran returners, which has allowed the Lady Trojans to go deeper into their bench without sacrificing production on either side of the floor.
“We haven’t been in big foul trouble yet because we can go eight deep without hurting,” she said. “We have everyone chipping in every single night so we don’t have to rely on one person to score on any given night. We have eight kids that can score and six that can go for 20 any given night.”
Turning their attention to Hillsboro, SES will need to be prepared to guard one of the best point guards in Class 2A, as well as the aforementioned presence in the paint.
“They have two really good players that we’ll have to contain,” Smith said. “We have to take the ball at the two of them because if one gets into foul trouble their game changes a lot. We can’t settle for threes and we have to play smart.”
Tip-off between Southeast of Saline and Hillsboro is set for 6 pm on the campus of Hillsboro High School with the boy’s game to follow at 7:30.
SES will have just one final matchup after this when the Trojans and Lady Trojans venture into Salina for a showdown with Sacred Heart next week.
As always the games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) and streamed on the Salina Post with live audio and video.
For continuing coverage of Southeast of Saline hoops, stay tuned to the Salina Post.