The Salem High boys’ basketball team will be in Dublin Friday for a River Ridge District basketball game against Pulaski County. The Spartans are 10-2 overall and 4-2 in the district after an exciting 59-49 win over Patrick Henry in Salem Tuesday night.
This one was much like the thriller the Spartans won in Roanoke in a prior meeting in December. It was a very physical game and close throughout, with Salem leading 30-26 at the half and 40-39 after three quarters.
Salem senior Cam Boles came into the game needing seven points for 1,000 for his career. He drew extra attention from the Patriots and had just three points at the half but Tanner Overstreet picked up the scoring with 13 first half points.
The Patriots scored the first points of the fourth quarter to take a 41-40 lead but Overstreet answered with a three and Salem never trailed again. Boles got his 1,000 point on a stick-back and was fouled on the play, canning the free throw for a 46-41 Salem lead with 6:31 to go.
PH hit one of two free throws to pull to 51-46 with 2:48 to go but the visitors would not score again. Braylon Smith seven points to close it out with a layup and five free throws as the Patriots were forced to foul. Overstreet was game high with 22 points, Boles had 12 and Smith finished with 11 as the Spartans swept the season series.
“I told the guys the day before that these are the type of games we love,” said Salem coach Kevin Garst. “Playing teams like PH forces you to play at a high level, and I thought our guys responded well.”
Last Friday at home Salem raced to a big lead then held on to beat Christiansburg, 75-63. Salem outscored the Blue Demons 21-5 in the second quarter to build a 40-17 halftime lead, then saw that 23 point advantage trimmed to four with plenty of time remaining in the fourth quarter. However, they pulled together and pulled out the win over a strong Christiansburg team.
Boles had a big night for Salem with a season-high 34 points. He was 12 for 21 from the floor and drained two three-pointers while making eight of 11 free throws. He also had a team-high 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive board. Smith had 13 points for the Spartans.
Salem has two non-district games next week, at Alleghany on Monday and home against Lord Botetourt on Wednesday, January 21.
