Salem, VA - The first half had everything you wanted in a basketball game. Great shooting, good defense, and a fast paced style that delighted a packed house at Churchland High School. For the first sixteen minutes Salem and George Wythe matched basket-for-basket. The difference in the first half was Salem’s ability to hit the 3-pointer consistently. The difference in the game was the torrid shooting of the Sun Devils. The Sun Devils hit 59% of their shots in the first half and 47% in the second half. On the other side the Bulldogs shot 42% in the first half and only 28% in the second.

At one point in the first half there were five consecutive 3-pointers as Salem and George Wythe exchange basket after basket. Unfortunately for George Wythe, the difference in the game was that Salem continued to hit a greater percentage of its shots and did a much better job protecting the basketball. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 18 times while Salem lost the ball only five times the entire game.

The Bulldogs out rebounded the Sun Devils 31-19, but Salem was 26 for 44 from the floor, 6 of 12 from 3-point range and 10 of 14 from the free throw line. George Wythe was 12 for 33 from the floor, 7 of 22 from 3-point range and 7 of 12 from the free throw line.

Salem held All Dominion District Player Jesse Pellot-Rosa to 10 points,

Meanwhile, Salem placed four in double figures of #21 Antonio Johnson, #33 Zohn Burden, #10 John Gilchrist, and #45 Paul Johnson.

Paul Johnson shared game scoring honors with John Gilchrist. Paul Johnson hit 4 of 5 from inside the three point line and 3 of 5 from 3-point range for 17 points. John Gilchrist was 6 of 10 from inside the line and five for five from the free throw line for 17 points.

Zohn Burden scored 13 points while shooting 63 % from the floor and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Burden led the team with three 3-pointers and rebounds with six. Antonio Johnson netted 12 points with a 6 of 11 night from the floor.

Donte Hammond led the Bulldogs with 15 points.

Salem will play T.C. Williams Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Vines Center in Lynchburg for a spot in the championship game on Saturday. The Sun Devils are hoping to celebrate two more times this year.

SportsCombine covered the game at Churchland before an estimated crowd 4600. Signs were placed on both sides of the court . The game was carried live over the radio and scores from every game played in A, AA and AAA were disseminated at the end of each quarter. SportsCombine had three phone lines taking calls from every game being played. The scores were compiled by Mike Houser and given to Bill Nettles and the radio station to announce over the air and PA system at Churchland. Virtually every score for A, AA and AAA boys and girls were reported before the game was over.