As teams get closer to the post season, conference standings determine almost as much as your overall record.
Wichita-East trails Heights by two games in the City League and after their 83-66 win over Southeast, it remains at only two.
The Golden Buffaloes (7-8) handed the Blue Aces one of their two losses in the GWAL. Heights has the other, but East would not relinquish a third behind a big second half effort to move past Southeast.
"The third quarter is the quarter you have to be careful with," said Ron Allen, East head coach. "Because when you come out of halftime, kids have a tendency to let down. We made them aware of the fact that you can't let down in the fourth quarter and play like you are down ten (points) instead of up ten."
Jalen Love dropped in 18 points and Ja'ln Williams had 15 for East. Hayden Harris had 18 to lead Southeast.
If you only watched the first half, you wouldn't believe the end score as both teams traded body blows waiting to see who would crack first but neither did.
Reggie Williams of Southeast started things off with a drive into the lane and Khaeem Ransom nailed a three-pointer in the corner to keep the score level with the Blue Aces.
But as the second quarter began, East began turning on the after burners, scoring tough layups and making it hurt at the foul line, pushing their lead to nine, 43-34 at halftime.
Whereas the first half was back and forth, the second half was anything but.
East (11-4) used a big third quarter effort to run past Southeast. Nathan Jackson had the effort of the night, dropping in 24 points against the Golden Buffaloes.
East hosts North on Monday in a makeup game from this past week due to the snowstorm.
Southeast Girls 64, East 47
Prior to the main event, Jamillah Bonner and Brittany Maxwell combined for 38 points in an easy 64-47 victory over East.
Southeast (9-6) led by double digits for the most of the game and moved rapidly up and down the court.
Bonner led the charge and stole loose balls from East and turned them into scoring opportunities for her team, usually finding Takoya Thompson at the basket. Thompson finished with 12 points.
As the scoring deficit got larger Southeast began to cruise but the lone bright spot for East was sophomore Relina Johnson. She knocked down two beautiful three point shots and picked one pass off from Bonner to finish with 15 points, but in a losing effort.
