By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team will return home for the first time in 2021 for the annual opening of the Trojan War with Beloit.
Both teams enter this contest at 1-1 with a win on Tuesday as Beloit defeated Clay Center 59-52 and SES took care of Smoky Valley 64-51.
“It was a good win for us,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “I thought we were really good with our initial defense but we struggled giving up offensive boards. The fact that we were able to win despite that was good but it was also good for us to pinpoint an issue that we could drill out in practice.”
SES swept Beloit in 2020-21 by final scores of 68-31 and 74-52 but Beloit returns 100% of its scoring this season while several key players from that Southeast team have since departed.
Anything can happen when these two meet, and in addition to being a rivalry game, the two now share a sub-state which adds yet another layer to an already intriguing matchup.
“The rivalry games mean more to our guys because they see them multiple times in all sports,” Flax said. “It’s always been the Trojan War between these two but we have to come to play because it’s not just a rival but it’s a league game against a potential sub-state opponent and that means more than a rivalry to me.”
Southeast will once again have to contest with a trio of double-digit scorers in the form of Bryce Beisner, Owen Eilert, and Wyatt Brockelman, who have combined to average 42 points per game through their first two matchups.
“They have a big kid inside and he’s fairly skilled so that’s going to bring its own set of issues,” he said. “They also have some experienced guards and it seems like they have the green light to let it fly so we have to be in a position to not give them uncontested shots.”
For SES, another key tonight will be in limiting second-chance points on the defensive glass after struggling at times to secure rebounds at Smoky Valley.
“We have to rebound better,” Flax said. “If we give Beloit two and three chances to score they absolutely will. They can score from anywhere especially if you’re out of position and we have to play sound help defense. If we do those things we’ll set ourselves up to compete.”
Tip-off between the two Trojans is set for 7 pm following the girl's game at Southeast of Saline High School.
As always, the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.