The Salem High boys’ basketball team will be busy over the holiday break, competing in the annual K-Guard Holiday Classic Tournament at the Salem Civic Center.
The tournament begins today and runs through Saturday and the Spartans will open with William Fleming. The Colonels are likely the favorite to win it and Salem will see them first at 3 pm. Other first round games have Hidden Valley against Lord Botetourt at 4:30 pm, Jefferson Forest against Broadway at 6 pm and Cave Spring against Floyd County to close out opening day at 7:30 pm.
Thursday’s winners will meet in the semifinals on Friday at 6 pm and 7:30 pm, with consolation bracket games in the afternoon. The championship game is scheduled for 7:30 pm on Saturday and there will be a seventh place game at 3 pm, a fifth place game at 4:30 pm and a third place game at 6 pm.
Salem comes in at 1-6 after falling to Christiansburg in their last game before Christmas. The Spartans lost to the Blue Demons in Salem, 67-46.
Salem trailed 34-17 at the half. The Spartans cut into the lead in the third quarter but the Demons finished strong to win going away. Josh Bryan had 16 to lead the Spartans and Willie Plympton had eight. Salem played without their two leading scorers. Isaiah Donaldson was out of town and Alex Blanchard sat out the past two games with an injury.
The Spartans will open the new year at Hidden Valley next Tuesday, January 2.