By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– Something just clicked for West Salem in their 57-55 win over 5A Juggernaut Wilsonville. They were driven to prove that they belonged in this game with the Wildcats
The Titans led 13-12 after one, Wilsonville led 23-22 at the half before West Salem led 38-34 going into the fourth quarter.
In that final frame, the Titans continued with a momentum run as they led 49-40 in the final frame before Wilsonville made one last mad dash for the win.
The Wildcats looked like the 5A State Runner-Up as they made the clutch plays to pulled within two, 57-55, with four seconds remaining.
For West Salem, they entered the game as the underdogs, and it was something they embraced as they contested Wilsonville’s last second heave from about mid-court.
“We were just fired up, everyone expected us to lose that game and so we got fired up and played well together as a team,” said Tyler Hawkins. “We were trying to get stops without fouling too much and we got to do a better job hitting our free throws. We were trying to play solid D and not let them get easy buckets.”
Hawkins finished with 14 points and Jonah Munns scored 13 points. Jacob Sanderson (11) and Tyler Sommer (10) scored in double-figures. West Salem plays the winner of Jefferson and Northern Nash of North Carolina on Friday at 4pm.
Cole Hammack led Wilsonville with 16 points and Jacob Boss scored 15 points as they’ll play the loser of that Jefferson-Northern Nash game
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
