Fans that stayed to the end of the Salem/Olney game at B.E. Gum were treated to one of the most improbable comebacks the home team has seen in years. Trailing by 9 with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter, Salem got stops and 3 point plays on 3 consecutive possessions and got a big defensive stop at the end of regulation to force overtime. Salem hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold off the Tigers 52-49.
Salem’s offense got off to a horrible start scoring just 6 points in the first quarter and 16 at half, but found enough things that worked in the second half. Avery Gullion led Salem with 20 including going 5-6 from the free throw line hitting 3 big overtime free throws. Kaeden Bevolo was very good as well going for 15 in an efficient night of scoring. Senior Ryegan Warren added 7 and Logan Butts played very strong defense on Olney 6-7 big man Casey Thomann. The Illini football recruit had 20 points but late in the game Butts helped keep him off the boards to allow Salem to mount their comeback.
The Cats are 4-5 on the season and will travel to Freeburg on Friday before heading to Wood River Saturday as part of the boys/girls mega-day.
Boys Tuesday Scores:
Altamont 53 Carlyle 42
Alton Marquette 47 Father McGivney 34
Alton 81 Althoff 42
Belleville East 66 Mater Dei 64 (OT)
Benton 54 Murphysboro 47
Carbondale 78 Herrin 54
Casey 59 Neoga 43
Collinsville 44 Granite City 36
Columbia 59 Roxana 58
Fairfield 52 Hamilton County 40
Goreville 55 Frankfort 43
Lawrenceville 49 Dieterich 34
Lincoln 46 Belleville West 43
Marion 69 Mattoon 62
Mt Carmel 49 Flora 44
NCOE 69 Galatia 47
North Clay 84 Thompsonville 51
Red Bud 80 EAWR 43
Red Hill 91 Martinsville 30
Sesser 55 Johnston City 46
Sparta 53 Wesclin 49
Staunton 69 Jersey 32
TTown 58 Effingham 41
Trico 66 New Athens 46
Vandalia 46 Auburn 40
Waltonville 71 Christopher 35
Waterloo 62 Freeburg 51
Wayne City 74 Grayville 60
WSS 78 CHBC 64
Woodlawn 80 SC 43
