Despite a late start to the season, West Liberty-Salem’s boys basketball team had no trouble putting the ball in the basket in its season opener Friday night.
The Tigers, whose first two games were postponed because of the football team’s playoff run, grabbed a 42-25 halftime lead and went on to take a 73-50 win over visiting Northeastern on Friday.
Points were plentiful in the opening quarter. The Tigers came out on top with a 24-19 advantage.
The WL-Salem defense took over in the second quarter as the Tigers led 42-25 at halftime.
WL-Salem stayed in control in the second half to wrap up the victory.
Holden Nease and Matthew Loffing powered the Tigers’ scoring attack. Nease led the team with 21 points and Loffing had 20 points.
Also for WL-S, Jack Eggleston tallied 14 points and Gavin Harrison and Noah Wilcoxon chipped in with five points each.
WL-Salem won the junior varsity game 58-48. Logan Saylor led the Tigers with 19 points and Owen Johnson had 18 points.
In the freshman game, WL-Salem lost to Urbana 40-17. Christian Davis led the Tigers with six points.
WL-Salem hosts Fairbanks on Tuesday for another OHC North division contest.
WL-SALEM 73, NORTHEASTERN 50
NORTHEASTERN (0-2, 0-1)
Fenton 5 5-5 16; Franzen 1 1-1 3; Allen 1 1-2 3; Nichols 3 3-3 9; Bush 4 2-2 12; Eubanks 3 1-2 7. Totals: 17 13-15 50.
WL-SALEM (1-0, 1-0)
Walker 1 0-0 3; Aler 0 0-0 0; Rapp 4 3-6 17; Patterson 6 3-3 16; Holycross 11 2-3 24; Anderson 0 0-0 0; Ling 0 0-0 0; Purnell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 8-12 57.
Jets 19 • 6 • 13 • 12 — 50
Tigers 24 • 18 • 12 • 19 — 73
Three pointers: Northeastern 3 (Bush 2, Fenton); WL-Salem 5 (Loffing, Siegenthaler, Eggleston, Nease, Harrison). Team fouls: Northeastern 16; WL-Salem 16.