The Salem Wildcats led wire to wire as they won their home opener beating St Anthony in front of a good crowd at B.E. Gum 49-47. Salem saw an 11 point fourth quarter lead dwindle down to 2 when junior Payton Gullion hit a big 3-pointer to give them some space. Then up 2 with under 10 seconds left, Gullion hit 2 free throws to push the lead to 4 and the Cats would hold on.
Payton finished with a career high 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting and was 7-of-8 from the foul line. Kaeden Bevolo also was in double figures with 10 and grabbed 9 rebounds. Ryegan Warren added 8 points on his 18th birthday.
Salem is 3-2 on the season and will open up their final season in the Cahokia Conference with a trip to Breese Central for the Cougars home opener.
Salem also lost the JV game and the freshman game that opened the night.
Mater Dei moved to 1-3 on the season with a 74-47 win over Althoff in their home opener in Breese. Beckett Wade hit 7 three pointers on his way to 21 points. Gavin Peppenhorst finished with a game high 22 and Reagan Woomer had 12.
At the Kaskaskian Classic in Carlyle, Woodlawn beat Greenville 58-33, Okawville over Riverview Gardens 79-53 and Carlyle beat Flora 55-29.
At the Goreville Invitational, Harrisburg beat Anna Jonesboro 63-56 and Goreville over Hardin County 61-51.
Boys Basketball Scores:
Alton Marquette 62 DePue 33
Bishop McNamara 60 Charleston 37
Cahokia 59 Highland 53
Casey 55 Effingham 48
Collinsville 52 Rochester 38
Granite City 59 O’Fallon 56
Jerseyville 46 Freeburg 23
Mascoutah 67 Priory, Mo. 46
Mater Dei 74 Althoff 47
Roxana 51 Marquette 42
Salem 49 St Anthony 47
Southwestern 43 Carrollton 36
Sparta 85 Sesser 51
Staunton 59 Civic Memorial 35
Wesclin 63 Waterloo 49
