By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team will have another opportunity to play for a Sterling Tournament title on Friday after eliminating Scott City 72-48.
The Trojans, still rolling at a perfect 10-0, will advance to the final to take on Hugoton while Scott City, now 5-5 will square off with Sterling in the third-place game.
Southeast took a 19-9 lead into the first quarter break and never looked back, cruising in yet another wire-to-wire victory.
“The pace of this game was really good,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We did a nice job of flying around defensively and getting deflections.”
Once again, three different Trojans notched double digits, led by a 26-point effort by Eli Sawyers, who was aided by Nakari Morrical-Palmer (19) and Drake Augustine (12).
The Trojans dominated in the paint, outscoring Scott City 54-20 around the rim, and blitzing the Beavers in transition off a staggering 24 turnovers.
Two Beavers found themselves in double figures in the losing effort, with 18 points from Dylan Metzger and 15 from Jackson Rumford.
Now, the Southeast will turn their attention to a familiar foe in this tournament in Hugoton, in what should be an entertaining game to wrap up another thrilling week in Sterling.
“It’s not hard for us to get these guys juiced to play,” Flax said. “We will be ready and we’re expecting a good one.”
Tip-off between the Trojans and Eagles is set for 7:30 pm at Sterling College and the game can once again be heard on KINA and streamed live on the Salina Post.
For more on both SES teams on the final day of the Sterling Tournament stay tuned to the Salina Post.