The Salem Wildcats punched their ticket to Friday’s SIT semifinals with an impressive 57-39 opening round win over Champaign Central last night in the final game of the evening. Gavin Zimmermann hit 5 three pointers for his 18 points to lead the way. Connor Tennyson added 15 and Sam Greene 11. Axel Baldwin led the Maroons with 16. Salem will advance to take on the Centralia Orphans at 6pm Friday in the first semifinal of the night.
The Orphans advanced by making a record 16 three pointers in their rout of Effingham 77-37. Centralia broke the record set by the Greenville Comets in 1998 when they hit 14. Centralia made 15 after three quarters led by Freshman Mike Organ who hit 6 on his way to a game high 22 points. Senior Cruz Harlan hit 5 for his 15 points. Effingham and Champaign Central will play at 11am on Saturday in the first consolation semifinal.
The Salem Invitational continues tonight with the other two opening round games that can be heard on WJBD. First at 6pm it’s the Flyers of East St Louis at 11-6 taking on the dangers 8-12 Carbondale Terriers. That will be followed by the rolling Mount Vernon Rams entering at 15-5 taking on the Charleston Trojans who enter at 8-10.
