Both Sacred Heart and Southeast of Saline girls basketball teams needed a win on Tuesday night for two very different reasons.

Sacred Heart needed a win to end its first losing streak in 2018-19. Southeast needed a win to end its two-game losing streak to its county rival.

The second-round of the the Saline County Showdown went to the Trojans though, as they made enough FTs to beat Sacred Heart, 70-65.

Southeast of Saline led 31-27 at halftime when the Lady Trojans came out of the break on a 9-2 run. Before Sacred Heart could even blink, the Knights found themselves down 40-29 in the early moments of the third quarter.

Sacred Heart didn’t panic however. Led by Ally Cochran, the Knights slowly chipped away at the SES lead. Trailing 46-42 with the clock ticking down in the period, Cochran would launch and connect on a half-court 3-pointer to pull Sacred Heart to within one point, 46-45.

The Knights then took the lead at two different points in the final quarter and appeared ready to take their third-straight Saline County Showdown, however, Southeast of Saline would be willed by its two players who had been willing them all night long: Karsyn Schlesener and Molly Chitty.

Schlesener would torture the Knights all night long from mid-rage, while Chitty grabbed clutch rebounds all night sunk big FTs. Every time Sacred Heart would pull close in the final stanza, the Trojans always had the answer, especially from the foul line.

Southeast of Saline (9-4, 4-3 NCAA) broke its two-game losing streak to Sacred Heart with the win. Both Schlesener and Chitty would record career-highs on Tuesday as well, with Schlesener tallying 26 points. Chitty tied her career-best with 22 points. Meredith Tillberg tallied in 11 points for SES in the win.

Sacred Heart (8-6, 4-3 NCAA) has now lost a season-high three-straight games. The Knights spoiled a good offensive night as Cochran led the way with 19 points, Teghan Slagle scored 17 and Hannah Goetz finished with 14 points.

Next up for both teams: Southeast of Saline plays at Chapman on Friday, while Sacred Heart hosts Minneapolis.

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Sacred Heart Boys 76, Southeast of Saline 42

The Sacred Heart boys team was able to exorcise some demons on Tuesday at Southeast of Saline.

After a tied game at 11-11 at the end of the first quarter, Sacred Heart would strike gold behind the effort of Charlie Skidmore. The Knights’ senior would punish the Trojans inside and out all night long.

Behind Skidmore and a tough Sacred Heart defense, the Knights would outscore SES 22-9 in the second quarter to lead 33-20 at halftime.

While Southeast of Saline kept things from getting out of hand early on in the third quarter, Sacred Heart was just too much as they would begin to pull away in the final quarter in-a-half for a dominating win that ended their two-game losing streak.

Southeast of Saline (3-10, 2-6 NCAA) was led by Eli Harris with 13 points.

Sacred Heart (10-4, 6-1 NCAA) swept the season season with their country rivals. The Knights had three players register in double-figures behind Skidmore’s career-night of 27 points. Ethan Buckner also tied a career-high with 16 points, while Mark Prendergast continued his good play with 11 points.

The next Sacred Heart game is on Friday on two Rocking M Media-Salina stations, FM 104.9 and 92.7 The New Zoo as the Knights host the Minneapolis Lions. Pregame begins at 5:45 p.m. with girls’ game tipping off at 6 p.m. The boys will follow immediately after.

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