Tuesday Hoops Preview: Central, South Meet Again

Mike Hammett - Tue 06:21 AM 02/12/2013

It's the start of the final two weeks of the high school basketball regular season tonight, as teams battle for sub-state seeding.

Leading the line-up in the county tonight, Salina Central meets Salina South at the Bicentennial Center.

It's the third meeting of the season between the two girls squads, with Salina Central taking the first meeting 38-28 on December 14, and South winning the Salina Invitational Tournament championship over the Mustangs 41-35 on January 19. The Mustangs come in off an up and down week, playing one of their best games of the year in a 69-36 win over Hays on Tuesday, but followed it up by struggling in Friday's 57-41 loss to Derby. Salina Central is 10-6 on the season and 4-4 in AVCTL Division I. South also had an up and down week, coming up short at state-ranked Newton 39-26 on Tuesday, before shooting 57 percent for the game in a 64-34 win over Hutchinson on Friday. The Cougars have won nine of their last 10 games to reach 13-3 overall and 5-3 in AVCTL Division I.

It's only the second meeting between the boys teams, with Salina Central winning 61-32 on December 14th against a South team that was battling illness that night. Both teams have improved since then. South split its games last week, knocking off Newton 62-52 on Tuesday before struggling on offense in a 53-35 loss to Hutchinson on Friday. The Cougars are 6-10 overall and 3-5 in AVCTL Division I. Salina Central split its games last week as well, holding off Hays 45-40 on Tuesday before fighting hard against state-ranked Derby in a 51-42 loss. The Mustangs are 10-6 overall and 6-2 in AVCTL Division I.

We'll have coverage of Salina Central and Salina South with the pregame show at 5:50 and tip-off at 6 from the Bicentennial Center on SportsRadio 1150 KSAL, Y93.7 and ksal.com.

Sacred Heart returns to the floor after a week off, hosting Beloit.

In girls action, Sacred Heart enters at 6-10 overall and 1-8 in the NCAA after falling short in its upset bid of Russell last week, 40-37. The Trojans are 6-11 overall and 2-8 in the NCAA, but are coming off their own upset of Russell on Friday night. The win snapped a three-game skid for the Trojans.

On the boys side, the Knights are 11-6 after last week's 60-23 win over Russell. The Trojans are 15-2 after dispatching Southeast of Saline and Russell last week. The Trojans are 9-1 in the NCAA, and are two wins away from a possible co-championship in the NCAA with Republic County. However, the Knights can get back in the race this week, sitting at 7-2 in the league, and facing both the Trojans and Buffs this week at Sacred Heart.

Our coverage of Sacred Heart and Beloit begins with the pregame show at 5:50 and tip-off at 6 on Classic Hits 104.9 and online at ksal.com.

Southeast of Saline travels to Ellsworth tonight for an NCAA match-up.

In the girls game, the Trojans come in at 10-7 and 5-4 in the league after a 32-20 loss to Minneapolis on Friday night. Ellsworth is 9-8 and 6-4 in the NCAA after upsetting Republic County 36-33 on Friday. The Bearcats won the first match-up at Southeast 51-38.

In the boys game, the Trojans are 9-8 and 4-5 in the NCAA after escaping Minneapolis with a 43-42 win on Friday. The Bearcats are 3-14 and 1-9 in the NCAA and lost 68-43 at Republic County on Friday. Southeast won the first meeting 59-43.

Ell-Saline travels to Moundridge tonight.

On the girls side, the Cardinals are 13-3 and 6-1 in the Heart of America League after rallying past Remington 59-47 on Friday. Moundridge is 14-3 overall and undefeated in the HOA after a 56-23 win over Inman on Friday. The Wildcats have won five straight games.

In the boys match-up, Ell-Saline is 6-10 and 1-6 in the HOA after Friday's 57-46 loss to Remington. The Wildcats are 12-5 overall after a 60-56 loss to Inman on Friday.