By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  The North Salem Boys Basketball team found themselves in a similar situation versus rivial McKay Friday night down 34-19 in the second quarter.

Though they were down 15 at that point, the Vikings didn’t quit and managed to put runs together and slow down the high pace Royal Scots offense and trap press defense entering the fourth.

McKay would have the final say in this one as they used a 21-6 run to seal the 79-52 victory and the season sweep over North Salem.

“That’s how we’ve been playing all year,” said Vikings Alex Vasquez.  “We have a mentality where we don’t give up.  We just got to keep moving forward with that, if we keep doing that we’re going to stay in all the games for the rest of the season.

“We just got to keep that up and we’ll be fine.”

For Tristen Wilson, him and his Scots find themselves in must-win situations for the remainder of the season to have a chance for a play in game, said that the win was great with McMinnville around the corner Tuesday.

“This win helps us a lot in the standings and hopefully making the postseason,” said Wilson.  “So McMinnville is a huge game for us, so we’re going to treat it like a playoff game.  So hopefully we can go down there and beat the Grizzlies and comeback with the win.”

The Scots found themselves up 7-6 early thanks to the help of a Khyler Beach three-pointer in the North Salem Bowl.

But that was before McKay took advantage of North’s kyptonie:  Turnovers.

Those turnovers help create offensive opportunities and fueled the fire for the Royal Scots as they built a 34-19 lead midway through the second quarter.

“We left off the gas a little bit so they made that little push and that little run and we had to put it back on the gas,” said Vasquez on the McKay rally.

Vasquez and his Viking Men managed to slow the pace down as the made a run before halftime, then a 14-4 run thanks to the help of Isaiah O’Connor’s as he led the way in both charges.

O’Connor had a game-high 18 points in the contest as North found themselves down 58-46 early in the fourth quarter.

That momentum was short-lived however because McKay (6-13, 3-8 GVC) answered with a game-sealing 21-6 run to ice their sixth-win of the season.

“We have to be aggressive for the whole time, to be sure we didn’t let low.,” said Scots Noah Tavera.
“We were hungry for that win and we knew this win was important for us.”

For Vasquez, the junior knows what him and his Vikings (1-18, 0-12 GVC)  team needs to do to renew the rivilary next year during his senior season, and that starts with the offseason.

“A lot work in the offseason,” Vasquez started.  “Put up shots and get into the weight room.  Get stronger and faster so we can compete with their speed so we can match them back and forth.”

But for now, they have to turn their focus to Sprague.

For the Scots, they have to travel to McMinnville to face the Grizzlies.

McMinnvile defeated  McKay 87-54 earlier this season and Scots Head Coach Dean Sanderson hopes that serves as confidence for his team.

“The first time they embarrassed us on our home floor and that’s our focus now,” said Sanderson.  “We have to find a way to compete against them because they’re going to have a lot of confidence.

“They’re going to think that they’ll walk all over us like they did first time and our kids should have no reason not to be completely ready to play Tuesday.”

PHOTO GALLERY (PICTURES BY JEREMY MCDONALD)

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81!