By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The Gresham Boys Basketball team came out with urgency in the opening round of the 6A State Playoffs.
They came in as the 20th-seed, on the road at West Salem, but yet the Gophers came out ready to play. They played for each other and it paid off as they saw themselves build an 40-25 lead on the 12th-ranked Titans early on
“It was urgency. We’re on the road, ee had to play for each other,” said Gresham Head Coach Cliff White. “I’m really proud of my guys, we were on thw road with a really tough team. They won Conference, Coach of the Year, they’re a well-coached team and stick to our guns to pull off that win.”
And the West Salem Boys Basketball team, down 15 on their home court, they didn’t quit. They kept battling and found a way to get back in the game.
Jonah Munns and Diggs Sladek anchored the comeback effort. The duo combined for 29 of West Salem’s 37 points as, for a brief second late in regulation. They cut the deficit to two a handful of times in the second half, but it wasn’t until 15.8 seconds left, off a Sladek lay-in, where West Salem picked up the lead.
It was 62-60 at this point.
“It was my teammates, they were getting the stops, getting me the ball, all I had to do was shoot it and put it in, ” starts Sladek.
“It was really fun, it really sucks losing but just being to play this year and being able to play at West Salem my last two years have been so fun and beneficial for me.”
The lead was brief, as with eight seconds left in regulation, Gresham’s Jeremiah Pichon tied the game up at 62 moments later as the game went into overtime.
With how the game became down the stretch, it was no surprise that extra time came of it. And that battling continued into the extra four minute period.
Both teams had exquisite teamwork, but it came down to the Gophers making that one, two extra stops to clinch the 72-65 victory.
“It’s sacrifice. We’ve been sacrificing all year, we’ve had someone else step up to make big plays. Today, Avery (Lo) stepped up again, it wasn’t just him, but everybody. From Jakai (Pippa-White), Kareem (Artharee). Trey (Darling) made some big free throws, JP made some big free throws. We played together and that helped us win that game,” said White.
Ter’Rae Foster led the Gophers with 21 points and Pichon contributed another 15 points as Gresham will head to play Tualatin on Friday.
Munn led the Titans with 30 points and Sladek contributed another 15 as West Salem ends the season 15-10 and with their first league title since the 2023 season.
“I think it’s a privilege to be able to play. It’s not a right, your obligated to play, but your privileged and blessed to be able to play,” Sladek said.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
