Friday Hoops Preview: 5A Girls Finals, 3A and 2A Semifinals Take the Stage

Mike Hammett - Fri 06:44 AM 03/01/2013

Two county schools will have teams playing for sub-state championships tonight, while three others have teams in the semifinals.

Salina Central's girls will play for their second straight state tournament bid, visiting Newton. The Mustangs are 0-2 against the Railers this season, losing 45-42 at Newton on December 7, and again at home, 43-31, on February 1. The Mustangs bring a four-game winning streak into tonight's game. The Railers are also looking for consecutive state bids, after winning their half of the sub-state last year.

Pregame coverage is at 6:50 with tip-off at 7 on SportsRadio 1150 KSAL.

Salina South's girls have lost four straight sub-state championship games, but will try to change that tonight as they host Great Bend. The Cougars have been tough on their home floor all year, losing just once. Great Bend and Salina South last met in 2009, when the Panthers beat the Cougars in the first of the four straight championship game losses for South. The Panthers rallied from a double-digit deficit at home to pick up a 48-40 win over Maize South on Wednesday night to advance.

Pregame coverage is at 6:50 with tip-off at 7 on Y93.7.

Sacred Heart's boys head to Hillsboro where they will square off with the sub-state's top seed, Marion. The Knights have had two days off to prepare for the semifinals after defeating Southeast of Saline on Tuesday. The rest of the sub-state's first-round games were played yesterday due to the early week winter storm. The Knights lost in the sub-state semifinals to Beloit last year, snapping a string of state tournament appearances. Marion comes in at 16-5 on the season.

Coverage begins at 4:30 online at ksal.com.

Southeast of Saline's girls are in the sub-state semifinals once again, but have lost four straight semifinal appearances. Tonight's semifinal poses a tough task for Southeast, meeting 19-2 Hillsboro. It's the second straight year for the two to collide in the postseason, with Hillsboro getting the 45-33 win last year. Hillsboro is the sub-state host, and is yet to lose on its home floor.

Tip-off is at 6 tonight.

Ell-Saline's girls visit sub-state host Republic County in the semifinals tonight in Class 2A. The Cardinals advanced after holding off Bennington 44-39 on Tuesday. It's the second straight year for the Cardinals and Buffs to meet in sub-state play, as Republic County won a 52-47 first-round match-up last year.

It's part of our Area Game of the Week doubleheader, which tips off with Lincoln and Washington County at 6 o'clock on True Oldies 98.5. Ell-Saline follows around 7:30.

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