South Salem 74, South Eugene 52: Top Performers
After trailing 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, South Salem played with a purpose on the road against South Eugene, outscoring the Axe 59-36 for the remainder of the game en route to a 74-52 statement victory. The…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAfter trailing 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, South Salem played with a purpose on the road against South Eugene, outscoring the Axe 59-36 for the remainder of the game en route to a 74-52 statement victory.
The Saxons punched the Axe in mouth to open up the second quarter and never looked back, dominating the glass and outworking the defending Southwest Conference champs on their way to a second straight win.
Considering both teams should be in solid contention for a league championship this season, the Saxons certainly came up with an early big win.
Here’s our top performers from Tuesday:
Kieran Pruitt (2020 South Salem) – Stats: 15 pts, 0 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl
The senior was all over the floor for the Saxons, making crafty drives to the bucket to help catalyze the offense. In addition, the 5-foot-10 guard made a difference on the defensive end, flying around for a couple steals that led to the transition game, where the Saxons dominated.
Nick Zuro (2021 South Salem) – Stats: 14 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast
The Saxons’ junior big man was big on the glass, coming up with multiple second chance baskets underneath. On several occasions, Zuro made impressive post moves to beat Aidan Clark inside, whose long reach usually collects blocks at a high rate. Zuro was a clear difference maker in the paint standing at 6-foot-6, and his sheer strength should be one of the Saxons’ key components moving forward.
Trey Galbraith (2020 South Salem) – Stats: 8 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast
Galbraith, the most experienced player on the Saxons roster, was a clear leader on Tuesday, getting vocal with his teammates and making smart plays at point. Galbraith has a smooth handle and a good feel for the game, and his scoring ability was still on display despite only putting up eight points. With a smooth stroke from deep, the 5-foot-9 Galbraith should be the Saxons’ engine as they fight towards a second straight trip to the Chile’s Center this season.
Sam Harris (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 17 pts, 1 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
The 5-foot-11 Harris was the lone consistent offensive option for the Axe, doing damage with both his three-point and mid-range jumpshooting. Harris is very strong on the defensive end, and his quick hands allow him to pick up plenty of steals. As a rare bright spot for the Axe on Tuesday, Harris proved why he’s one of the top guards in the SWC.
Aidan Clark (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 13 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk
Clark was the most effective first half player for South Eugene, doing damage with a variety of running shots in the paint. Clark’s sheer size makes him a disruptive presence on the defensive end, and his ability as a rebounder continues to improve. The 6-foot-8 center also displayed decent vision as a passer, making a couple good finds from the low block.