The Sugar-Salem Diggers beat the Shelley Russets handily for the second time in two days Thursday night to secure the 3A District 6 championship.
The Diggers' last district championship was too long ago for coach Jay Miller to easily recall. Then again, it takes some doing to remember anybody other than Shelley cutting down the nets. The Russets had won the past five district titles.
"Everybody is always out to get Goliath," Miller said. "We're just happy that it was our turn this year."
Sugar-Salem (22-3) returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2000. That happens to be the same year Shelley (13-11) did not advance to the state tournament.
The game was in many ways a repeat of Sugar-Salem's 57-42 win over Shelley on Wednesday. In both games, the Diggers doubled Shelley's leading scorer, point guard Tanner Higham, anywhere he touched the ball. Though the senior capably slung the ball to open Russets down the floor, Shelley seldom capitalized on its numbers advantage for easy baskets.
Center Mason Higham led Shelley with 18 points and 11 boards. Tanner Higham scored 15, and Tommy Higham hit four 3s and scored 14. But Sugar-Salem achieved its goal by holding Tanner Higham to only 15 shots and the Russets to 36 percent shooting.
"Tanner Higham is the best player in the state, I think," Sugar guard Kevin Walker said. "We had to double him to get the ball out of his hands."
Meanwhile, Sugar-Salem shot a scorching 56 percent from the field. Reserve forward Caleb Brown led the Diggers with 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting, and reserve guard Kyle Andrews scored 12 on 4-for-6 shooting. Starting guard Brennan Bean also scored 12.
"They hit shots," Shelley coach Dave Hadley said. "Every time we started to put together a run, they'd come right back and make big buckets. They outplayed us."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment