By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After steamrolling Minneapolis to remain a perfect 7-0 on the young season, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team will turn their attention to Clay Center in their final matchup before the Sterling Tournament next week.
In the first KBCA rankings of the new year, the Trojans reclaimed their throne atop Class 3A and will enter this contest at #1, while the Tigers will come in at 2-5.
In years past, games against these kinds of opponents have hampered some teams at the top of their game, but this year’s Trojan squad has adopted an all-business mentality and thus far has handled that business without issue on the floor.
“I wouldn’t say that we’re immune from a trap game here or there but I think we’re mature and we’re locked in,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “These guys are hungry to get to where we want to be and they understand what it takes. I think that experience and that maturity allows us to be in a good position and not fall victim to those kinds of games.”
In addition to simple execution and drive, this year’s Trojans seem to possess an exceptional basketball IQ , which has allowed Coach Flax and his staff to run more complex sets on both ends of the floor.
“In the past, we’ve had a couple of guys that were really locked in and we’ve had to spend time reigning other guys in or we’d put a new set in, and only 3-4 guys would really get it right away,” Flax said. “As a group, 1-13 you can draw something up and these guys can execute it and I think that’s a testament to their relationship to us as a coaching staff and to each other on the floor.”
To keep the good times rolling in 2023, Southeast must be prepared for a Tiger team that has played a number of quality opponents tough throughout the year but has struggled to put those opponents away down the stretch.
“Clay is fairly athletic and we’ve seen different looks from them,” he said. “We’ve seen them play man, we’ve seen them play zone and they have some kids that have been in that program for a while mixed in with some young talent. I like them on film but that record doesn’t show that.”
On the SES side of the matchup, the Trojans will simply look to continue doing what’s gotten them here, pushing the pace and turning defense into offense in bunches.
“I like our chances if we push the tempo and keep that in our favor,” Flax said. “We’re rebounding at a really high level right now, we need to continue to do that, we’re playing good defense and we need to keep turning stops into buckets. That’s been a key for us for the last two years and that’s going to continue.”
Tip-off between the Trojans and Tigers is set for 7 pm at Clay Center High School following the girl’s game at 6:30.
As always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio, and streamed live on the Salina Post with both audio and video).