By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  Winning the Capitol City Classic last season at Willamette University really helped send the West Salem Boys Basketball team down the right path as they went 18-7 and reached the second round of the 6A State Playoffs last season.  A tournament that they are returning to on December 16-21 before going to Medford for the Abby’s Holiday Tournament going into the New Year.

Now entering this year, with returners like Jimmy Lathen, Tommy Slack, Connor Oretel and Trent Ferguson, all four were league honors last season who return to lead the squad this year as they kicked off the season Monday night at West Salem High School.

“It was a great way to start off the season and we felt good going off of there.  It was a pretty high point and it really set us up moving forward throughout the year, if we go back and do the same thing, I only think we have good things coming,” Lathen said of the CCC.  “We have four people returning that were all-league players, so I think that we’ll respond pretty well this year.  We also have Jackson Leach , who will be in there and I feel pretty good about ourselves and some bench guys coming in.  I’m not worried at all.”

The Titans will kick-off the season with a jamboree at Sherwood on November 30 before starting the season December 6 at home against Tigard.

In the meantime, over the next two-plus weeks, it’s a matter of piecing together chemistry amongst each other going into the season, the three tournaments and Central Valley Conference-play this season.

“We just need to get our chemistry down.  Our depth is super good so I’m excited for this year,” Slack said.  “It’ll be huge, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald