By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After reclaiming their rightful place atop the Class 3A rankings on Tuesday, the undefeated Southeast of Saline basketball team cemented their status with another dominant victory, this time of the 66-49 variety over Clay Center.
With this win, the Trojans move to 8-0 on the season while the Tigers fall to 2-6.
“This wasn’t really a good shooting night for us,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “I thought we did some really good things late but we weren’t getting to very good spots. Clay Center played pretty consistent tonight, they’re a young team starting to figure things out, credit to them.”
Offensively, three different Trojans notched double digits in the win, led by Nakari Morrical-Palmer (19), Eli Sawyers (16), and Kayson Lilley (15).
“I thought it was a group effort on offense,” Flax said. “That’s been the case when we get zoned defensively. We had some opportunities to get on the run and we left some opportunities off offensive rebounds out there but any time you can go on the road and come away with a win you have to be happy.”
As they have for a majority of the season, Southeast won the pressure game, turning the Tigers over 16 times while surrendering possession just nine times themselves.
The Trojans also looked dominant on the glass, stealing away offensive boards in bunches.
Next up, SES will turn their attention to the Sterling Tournament next week where they will open bracket play with a familiar foe in Smoky Valley.
“Obviously we want to come away with a trophy in Sterling but we have to take things a game at a time,” Flax said. “I would have preferred anyone but Smoky in that first round just to see someone different but they’ve been playing better than they were and they can be a challenge.”