The third-seeded Salem Tigers earned a third-place finish in the Sullivan FCNB Bank-It Invitational last week, led by a pair of seniors named to the all-tournament team.
The Tigers defeated fourth-seeded Warrenton 55-40 Friday, Dec. 5 in the third-place contest. Seniors Braiden Gapsch and Gavin Sapaugh were selected for the all-tournament honors, as the duo combined for 34 of Salem’s 55 points in the trophy game.
In other finals Dec. 5, top-seeded Potosi fended off second-seeded St. James 63-61 in the championship game; seventh-seeded St. Louis Patriots defeated fifth-seeded Steelville 49-40 in the fifth-place game, and eighth-seeded Sullivan topped sixth-seeded Cuba 65-57 in the seventh-place game.
Salem survived Cuba in the opening round 54-51 Tuesday, Dec. 2 before falling to St. James 66-63 in the semifinals Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Games scheduled for Dec. 1 were postponed due to the weather.
This week, Salem was to play at Waynesville Tuesday before hosting St. James for a shot at redemption Friday night, with action starting at 5 p.m.
Third-Place Dec. 5 - Salem 55, Warrenton 40: After leading by one at halftime, the Tigers used its best offensive quarter of the game to pull away in the third. The Tigers went on a 20-5 tear in the period and took a 43-27 lead into the final quarter.
Gapsch powered Salem in the opening period, scoring 10 of Salem’s 16 first-quarter points to put the Tigers ahead by a point. Both teams netted seven in the second and Salem stayed in front going into the break.
Warrenton had no answer for the Gapsch-Sapaugh duo in the third, as the pair piled in 15 points together. Salem created its largest distance of the game in the quarter, leading by double-digits with a quarter to play.
Salem cooled off some in the fourth, led by three apiece from Gapsch and junior Tyson Connors.
Gapsch led the Tigers with 23 points, while Sapaugh recorded his third double-double of the tournament with 11 points and 10 rebounds and added three steals. Senior Lincoln Thomas also had a well-rounded performance, scoring six while dishing out a team-high four assists and recording four rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Eli Wofford had six points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist.
Overall, the Tigers shot particularly well in the contest with 51% from the field, including 50% from long range and 46% from the free throw line.
The individual scoring:
Salem (3-1): Cunningham 1-0-3, Thomas 3-0-6, Halinar 0-1-1, Connors 1-0-3, Gapsch 9-2-23, Headrick 1-0-2, Sapaugh 2-7-11, Wofford 2-2-6.
Warrenton: Lehmkuhl 0-1-1, Martin 2-0-6, Forrest 3-1-7, Sanders 2-1-6, Meier 4-0-14, Greene 1-0-2.
The score by periods:
Salem 16 7 20 12-55
Warrenton 15 7 5 13-40
Semifinals Dec. 3 - St. James 66, Salem 63: A late-game offensive surge wasn’t enough to overcome first-quarter woes for Salem. In a battle of Tigers, Salem managed six points to start the game and trailed by as many going into the second. Salem came alive before halftime, thanks to a triple and seven points from Wofford. However, hot shooting from St. James’ senior Tate Gruver, who netted his third 3-pointer of the half in the second, allowed St. James to keep a 34-25 advantage at intermission.
Gapsch, Sapaugh and Wofford combined for 12 points in the third, matching St. James’ output, and the Tigers trailed 46-37 with a quarter to play.
Salem put up a fight for a comeback in the fourth quarter. Gapsch nailed two treys and scored 10 in the period, followed by another pair of triples from junior Ryan Cunningham and another six from Sapaugh. Salem managed to outscore St. James 26-20 in the period, but a 10-of-14 effort from the charity stripe was enough for St. James to hold off Salem’s attempt.
Gapsch fired in four triples and went 4-of-4 from the free throw line to total 20 points. Sapaugh also scored 20 points, while pulling down 10 boards and adding two steals. Wofford had 12 points, six boards, three assists and a team-high four steals.
St. James’ own pair of senior standouts in Gruver and Aiden Boone combined for 33 points.
The individual scoring:
Salem: Cunningham 3-0-9, Thomas 1-0-2, Gapsch 6-4-20, Sapaugh 7-6-20, Wofford 6-0-12.
St. James: Boone 3-6-14, Gruver 5-5-19, Gleason 1-0-3, Smith 2-2-6, D. Spurgeon 2-0-3, Meurer 2-0-8, J. Spurgeon 3-3-10.
The score by periods
Salem 6 19 12 26-63
St. James 12 22 12 20-66
First Round Dec. 2 - Salem 54, Cuba 51: The Tigers jumped out to an early advantage, but a trey from Cuba’s junior Braden Gipson at the buzzer slashed Salem’s lead to one, 13-12, going into the second.
Salem maintained its distance before halftime with six points from Sapaugh, who recorded double-digit scoring before the break with 11 points. Salem led 27-22 at the end of the first half.
Sapaugh continued to power Salem in the second half with nine 3rd-quarter points. Salem led 41-36 headed into the fourth.
Sapaugh paced the Tigers with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Thomas scored 10 points and had five assists, five rebounds and two steals. Wofford rounded out double figures with 10 points and three rebounds.
The individual scoring:
Salem: Thomas 2-5-10, Connors 1-0-2, Gapsch 3-1-7, Headrick 2-0-4, Sapaugh 8-5-21, Wofford 5-0-10.
Cuba: Carnal 3-1-7, Gipson 6-1-16, Noltkamper 3-0-8, Brown 5-2-12.
The score by periods:
Salem 13 14 14 13-54
Cuba 12 10 14 15-51
