The Salem High boys’ basketball team got off to a good start with a win over William Byrd to open the season Monday. The Spartans took a 62-50 win in Vinton.
Salem got off to a good start, leading 13-7 after the first quarter and 32-22 at the half. The Terriers upped their game in the second half but Salem won both the third and fourth quarters by 15-14 scores to pick up the road win.
Cam Boles led Salem in scoring with 24 points. He was four for eight from the floor and got to the line for 19 free throws, canning 16. He also had eight rebounds and three assists.
“He probably could have got there a few more times,” said Salem coach Kevin Garst. “A couple times he had two or three guys hanging on him and they didn’t call it.”
Tanner Overstreet led the Spartans with nine rebounds as Salem out-rebounded the Terriers for the game, 29-22, including nine on the offensive glass. Overstreet was second on the team with 10 points while Braylon Smith had nine and Elijah Paddyfote had eight points.
“It was good for the first game,” said Garst. “We didn’t shoot great but the guys played hard. There are things we need to tighten up, and execution-wise we need to be better.”
The Spartans are back in action tonight when they host Northside for their home opener. That’s always a tough game as the Vikings are expected to be one of the top teams in the area once again despite losing some top talent from last year.
“They’ll be good,” said Garst. “They have a lot of seniors who played against their studs in practice the past couple years.”
Salem will be back home Saturday for a rare matinee with visiting Mecklenburg. The jayvees will play at 2 pm with the varsity to follow at approximately 3:30 pm.
Next Tuesday the Spartans will host Radford.
