By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
McKay are slowly coming out of their drought this season. The squad had recently won their first game in 52 tries earlier this year, took South Salem to the brink and had West Salem within four with 2:05 following Justyn Byrd’s basket. Making the game 52-48.
“A lot of teamwork man, a lot of passing around. We had a lot of Eagle ball last year and I think we put a stop to that and worked as a team this year,” said the Scots Byrd. “We’re getting there. We’re working. It’s definitely putting a word out there for us…we’re going to come out and compete, every game.”
Byrd, Kobe Miller and Daniel Mendez led the offensive charge with 11, 16 and 13 respectively.
The defining series of moments that helped keep the Titans ahead of the Scotsmen was Brooks Ferguson. The six-five Junior came exploding onto the scene in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the frame. Keeping West afloat in the tight game it had become.
“It was big. Calls weren’t going our way and we just had to find a way and kept playing,” said Ferguson. “We kept playing. It was great for us to play through that adversity, it’s always going to be a tough one. It was a great learning experience going through that stuff…it’s a big win. We just got to communicate better, play more together. This group hasn’t played much basketball together, so it’s just a learning experience for us every game.”
The Titans held a ten-point lead at halftime and led by as much as 12 or so in the third period before McKay’s rally back into contention in the second half.
For West, they got a stop here and a basket there after Byrd’s basket to help ice the 58-51 win as Alec Dyson and Holden Whipple hit a shot and some clutch free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win. Trent Ferguson had a team-high 13 points, Tommy Slack (10) and Whipple (10) each scored in double-figures for the Titans.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
