By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
For the Salina Central girls basketball team, getting to this year’s state tournament was never a matter of “if”, it was always a matter of “when.”
The Lady Mustangs, who outscored their opponents by 656 points this season rolled through sub-state, eliminating Newton 60-23 and finishing off #9 Hays on Saturday 63-33 to punch their ticket to Emporia.
“This has been a very special season,” Central head coach Chris Fear said. “Our players worked incredibly hard during the off-season and really improved. We have sacrificed for the benefit of our team and the results have been fantastic. I'm very proud of the growth that we have shown.”
The Lady Stangs cruised past Hays for the second time this season thanks in large part to another 29-point gem from senior superstar Aubrie Kierscht.
The Mustang defense came to play as well, tightening the screws and never allowing Hays to score more than three field goals in a single quarter, holding every Indian except for Molly Martin to single-digits.
Central remains the only undefeated team in Class 5A at 22-0, but will be tested in a loaded 5A state bracket full of teams hunting the 1-seed.
“We know that the competition level is going to improve as we get to the state tournament,” Fear said. “We are going to focus on what we need to do and play as hard as we can when the state tournament starts.”
The Lady Mustangs will be joined at state by Bishop Carroll, Emporia, Andover Central, St. Thomas Aquinas, Lansing, Spring Hill, and De Soto.
Five of those opponents are ranked, with Bishop Carroll, Emporia, St. Thomas Aquinas and Lansing rounding out the top-five behind Central.
While the Mustangs sit just three wins away from their ultimate goal, it will take their best basketball to hoist the trophy at the end of it all.
“We are going to trust each other and our system,” Fear said. “If we execute, we feel that we are going to be difficult to beat regardless of who we play. I am confident that we will show our best selves during the tournament.”
The state tournament will begin on Wednesday, March ninth in Emporia, with brackets set to release on Sunday.
For continuing coverage of the Lady Mustangs state-run, stay tuned to the Salina Post.