By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Southeast of Saline boy’s basketball team continued their dominance over Smoky Valley on Tuesday, sinking the Vikings 55-41.
With this win the Trojans, still ranked as the #9 team in Class 3A, move to 1-1 on the year while Smoky Valley falls to 0-2.
The Vikings looked determined out of the gates, taking a 15-11 lead into the second quarter, eager to snap their seven-game losing streak against Southeast.
Enter Owen Bailey.
The budding transfer had 14 points in the second quarter alone, including three triples to put the Trojans back on top 27-23 at the half.
“When we can get a foot in the paint and kick out our success on three-pointers is way better and I thought we did a nice job of bringing multiple defenders to us and making the right decision,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Owen has a quick release and they lost him a couple of times, he did a really great job tonight.”
By the final buzzer, Bailey led all scorers with 34 points, and got some help in the second half, with Gannon Jacobson chipping in nine points of his own.
Taylor Campbell and Ki Blanchat did their best to turn the tide, scoring 20 and 13 respectively, but the Vikings couldn’t overcome the late Trojan push, falling 55-41.
Down the stretch, the Trojans tightened the screws defensively, holding Smoky Valley without a fourth-quarter bucket until the closing minutes of the game.
“I thought we did a better job in the second half and in the fourth quarter especially at getting around them in the post,” Flax said. “We were playing a little soft at the half and we have to clean those things up if we’re going to really see us get to our potential but our defensive effort overall was pretty good.”
The Trojans will return to Gypsum on Friday for their home and league opener as they prepare to host Beloit for leg one of the Trojan War.