Basketball Game Preview: Salem Hills Skyhawks vs. Payson Lions

The Salem Hills Skyhawks will take on the Payson Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: both posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.

Last Tuesday, Salem Hills escaped with a win against Northridge by the margin of a single free throw, 74-73. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Skyhawks.

Salem Hills' success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Jacoby Gustin led the charge by dropping a double-double on 18 points and 12 boards. The dominant performance gave Gustin a new career-high in points. Another player making a difference was Elijah Gasser, who posted 13 points in addition to six boards and four steals.

Meanwhile, Payson faced Juab in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. Payson breezed by Juab to the tune of 82-48. The win was just business as usual for the Lions, who after six games remain undefeated this season.

Salem Hills has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests, which provided a nice bump to their 3-4 record this season. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 67.0 points per game. As for Payson, their victory bumped their record up to 6-0.

Salem Hills strolled past Payson in their previous matchup back in December of 2023 by a score of 79-64. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Payson's Kamika Wesley, who dropped a double-double on 28 points and 12 rebounds. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for Salem Hills to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.