The Salem Spartans improved to 6-8 with a 69-64 win over the host Titans at Hidden Valley Tuesday night, opening a busy week of action.
The Spartans’ leading scorer, Tanner Dallas drew three early fouls and sat for most of the first half but still ended up with 18 points. Chase Greer had 14, Josiah Moyer had 13 and Tyrell Green had nine, including four big foul shots in the fourth quarter.
“It was their senior night, they were fired up,” said Salem coach Kevin Garst of the Titans. “It was a good win for us.”
It was a good way to start the week for the Spartans, who were scheduled to play at Christiansburg Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader with the girls. On Friday the Spartans go back to the New River Valley when they play at Blacksburg.
Salem split two games last week after being snowed out of a game with Patrick Henry, rescheduled for February 9. On Thursday of last week Christiansburg was here and the Demons scratched out a 66-61 win over the Spartans in overtime.
This one was close throughout. The Demons led 24-20 at the half but Salem cut the lead to 34-33 after three quarters. Salem trailed by two, 53-51, with time running out when Grant Clemens shot a three from the corner that could have won it. The ball rattled out, but Clemens was able to come up with the rebound and put it in at the buzzer to tie the game at 53-53 after regulation. The Demons then outscored Salem in the overtime period, 13-8, to pull out the win.
Tanner Dallas had 35 points to lead the Spartans before fouling out. Hunter Bayne had nine points, and he also fouled out.
Two days later the Spartans were back on their home floor to host George Wythe High in a non-district game, and this time the Spartans came out on top, 63-40. Dallas had 21 points and five assists to lead Salem while Clemens was three-for-three from three-point range, finishing with 13 points. Moyer had six assists for the Spartans.