Oregon High School Basketball - Salem Academy topped by Western Mennonite
January 24, 2009: Salem, OR 97304 The Salem Academy Crusaders basketball team (Salem, OR), dropped 77-64 in Saturday's league match with the host Western Mennonite Pioneers (Salem, OR)
In their next game, the Pioneers confront the Kennedy Trojans (Mt. Angel, OR) in a 2A Tri-River match, on Tuesday, January 27. Western Mennonite will attempt to better on its 17-0 season record. The Trojans enter the match with a 6-10 record after their 54-26 league loss to East Linn Christian Academy (Lebanon, OR).
With the defeat, Salem Academy moves to 10-8 on the year. The Crusaders host Santiam (Mill City, OR) to confront the Wolverines in a 2A Tri-River match on Tuesday, January 27. The Wolverines enter the match with a record of 4-14. Santiam lost 62-52 in their recent league match against Blanchet Catholic (Salem, OR)
First Quarter
This game paired the #1 & #2 teams in the Tri-River against each other on Western Mennonites home floor. Both teams came out with focused defensive efforts, but the Pioneers' unselfishness proved to be the difference with numerous jaw dropping passes. Western ended the first period with a 20-13 lead.
Second Quarter
Salem Academy charged back led by Grant Skoog as they put on full court pressure & began to make Westerns offense hard to come by. Both teams headed into the mid-way point with Western leading 32-27 and looking forward to what was turning out to be another great conference match-up between the two.
Third Quarter
Tayler Branch took over the quarter & led the Pioneers to a 47-38 lead with 11 points in the quarter. The Crusaders struggled to find an offensive rythm as Westerns press & swarming half court defense was entertaining.
Fourth Quarter
Branch continued his offensive dominance with another 9 points in the final quarter as Western ran away with a 77-62 lead. The Pioneers emptied their bench once again as they improved their season to 17-0.
Western Mennonite now looks ahead to Kennedy on Tuesday in what will be their first challenge with them of the year.
