The Tigers could not get a victory on the road in three SCA contests last week.
On Friday, Salem fell at Mountain Grove 77-41. Feb. 8 at Mountain Grove the Panthers topped the Tigers 74-57. And in a make-up game Feb. 7 at Cabool the Tigers lost 52-43.
This week Salem, 0-19, was to play at Houston Thursday and host Thayer Friday in SCA action.
Next week the Tigers are to end the regular season with home games against St. Clair Feb. 22 and Ava Feb. 24.
Mtn. Grove 77, Salem 41: The Mountain Grove Panthers blew out to a 28-8 lead after the first period and was in control the rest of the way. Salem trailed 56-26 at halftime and went into the fourth quarter down 66-35.
The game was part of a boy/girl varsity doubleheader.
Junior guard Gunnar Konkel led Salem with eight points.
Four Panthers scored in double figures, led by sophomore Bradley Henry with 19.
Salem (0-19): Richter 2-0-4, Konkel 4-0-8, B. May 2-2-6, E. May 1-0-2, DuBois 1-0-3, Hanger 2-0-5, Heavin 2-1-5, Gately 2-0-4, Sanders 1-0-2, Wilson-Webber 1-0-2, Totals 18-3-41.
Mtn. Grove: Glenn 1-0-2, Bruce 4-6-14, Stenzel 7-1-17, Dowden 5-5-14, Henry 8-2-19, Linton 1-0-2, Hellbusch 4-1-9, Totals 30-15-77.
Mtn. Grove 28 28 10 11-77
Liberty 74, Salem 57: The Tigers stayed with the Liberty Eagles for three periods. Liberty clung to a 20-19 lead after the first period and went into halftime up 36-34. Salem was outscored 16-13 in the third period and went into the final period behind 56-47. However, the Eagles canned 9-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter and outscored the Tigers in the period 22-10 to pull away.
Sophomore guard Bryson May netted 20 points to pace Salem while Konkel added 13.
The Liberty duo of sophomore Terrell Gaines and junior Drew Ripko combined for 53 points – 31 for Gaines and 22 for Ripko.
Salem: Richter 3-0-8, Konkel 4-3-13, B. May 9-2-20, E. May 1-1-3, Gately 3-1-7, Wilson-Webber 3-0-6, Totals 23-7-57.
Liberty: Gaines 9-10-31, Cooper 1-0-2, Ripko 8-3-22, Reese 1-1-3, Pruett 0-4-4, Frazier 4-0-9, Rutledge 1-0-3, Totals 24-18-74.
Cabool 52, Salem 43: The Tigers and Cabool Bulldogs were involved in a tight game. The Bulldogs outscored Salem 16-6 in the first quarter and held a slim edge the rest of the way. The Tigers tightened things up by allowing just six points in the second period. Cabool went into halftime up 22-16. The two teams combined for just 17 points in the third quarter, with Cabool leading 31-24 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs kept the lead by adding 21 points the rest of the way.
B. May fired in 21 points to lead Salem. Sophomore William Atkins paced Cabool with 18 points.
Salem: Richter 1-0-2, Konkel 4-0-8, B. May 9-2-21, Gately 1-0-2, Sanders 1-1-3, Wilson-Webber 3-1-7, Totals 18-4-43.
Cabool: Gonzales 2-8-12, Atkins 4-10-18, Shockley 3-0-6, Byerley 2-6-10, Burns 1-0-2, Fleetwood 2-0-4.
