The Salem High boys’ basketball squad had a dominant 2-0-week last week, demolishing Viburnum 105-24 Tuesday, Dec. 5 and knocking off St. James 82-57 Friday, Dec. 8 in a pair of home games.
The Tigers improved to 3-2 overall.
This week Salem was scheduled to play at Eldon Tuesday and at Camdenton Friday.
Dec. 5 – Salem 105, Viburnum 24: There was no stopping Salem Tuesday night.
The Tigers poured in a fiery 35 points in the opening quarter, fueled by 14 from senior guard Bryson May. Salem led by nearly 30 points, 35-7, going into the second quarter.
Salem followed its first-quarter effort with a 38-point second quarter, as 10 different Tigers scored in the period. Salem went into halftime ahead 73-10.
The Tigers cooled off in the second half but never let Viburnum get close. Sophomore guard Laiden Richter netted seven in the third, and the Tigers cruised into the fourth quarter leading 91-17.
Junior guard Cayden Moody put in six points and senior forward Trae Parsons five in the final quarter.
Five Tigers finished the night in double figures. May and L. Richter led Salem with 18 points each, while Sanders and senior guard Kaiden Gately had 12 apiece. Sophomore guard Braiden Gapsch added 10 points.
The JV Tigers defeated Viburnum 44-12.
Salem: T. Richter 1-0-2. Thomas 2-0-5, May 7-3-18, Moody 3-1-7, Gately 4-3-12, Gapsch 4-1-10, Radford 2-0-4, Sanders 4-3-12, L. Richter 7-0-18, Parson 6-1-14, Mink 1-1-3.
Viburnum (0-5): Medlock 4-1-10, Johnston 3-2-10, Hargis 2-0-4.
Dec. 8 – Salem 82, St. James 57: In a battle of the Tigers, it was the Salem squad that did the mauling.
Salem jumped to an early double-digit lead in the first quarter 25-12, led by eight from Sanders.
St. James chipped away in the second quarter, but Salem maintained a 39-29 lead at halftime.
Salem posted another 25-point quarter in the third. May put in eight, Sanders seven and Parsons six, and the Tigers extended their lead 64-40.
Salem outscored St. James by one in the fourth quarter.
Sanders led all scorers with 22 points. Gately netted 16, May 15 and Parsons 12.
Sophomore Tate Gruver led St. James with 12 points.
Salem won the junior varsity game 71-26 while St. James won the freshman contest 36-30.
Salem (3-2): T. Richter 1-0-2, May 7-1-15, Gately 8-0-16, Sanders 9-2-22, L. Richter 2-1-6, Parsons 6-0-12, Mink 4-0-8.
St. James (1-5): Gruver 6-0-14, Gleason 2-0-4, Martin 1-0-2, Schact-Mundo 3-0-7, Meurer 2-8-12, Perkins 1-2-4, Cairer 1-0-2, Siders 0-2-2, Boone 4-1-10.
