West Branch wins fourth straight game with 49-44 triumph over Salem

SALEM — West Branch won its fourth consecutive game with a 49-44 triumph over Salem in Eastern Buckeye Conference boys’ basketball action here Friday night.

The Warriors, who start four underclassmen, upped their record to 10-2 overall in securing the victory. They also lead the EBC standings with a perfect 5-0 record.

“All the guys that played did their jobs,” observed West Branch head coach Scott Loudon. “It wasn’t the prettiest.”

Salem’s ledger is a deceiving 3-6 overall because the Quakers have been very competitive in all of their games.

Salem head coach Jeff Andres praised his Quakers for their determined effort and said his team has been in all three of their most recent contests and just came up short.

“Three in a row, we had Carrollton on the ropes down at their place, we had Marlington Tuesday on the ropes and then tonight,” said Andres.

Warrior senior Jaxon Robb led a fourth-quarter comeback in the game for West Branch which trailed the Quakers throughout the first three quarters and into the final stanza. Robb finished with 17 points in the game.

Loudon praised Robb, one of just two seniors on the Warriors’ roster, and junior Joey Jackson who made the go-ahead three-pointer in the game’s waning minutes.

The winning Warriors also had one other player in double figures as Jeremiah Thomas had 12 markers in the rivalry contest.

“There were a lot of different plays,” reflected Loudon. “Gavin (Gregory) comes up and hits a big shot and he just keeps going with rebound after rebound, and the same thing with Cooper (Anderson), and JT (Jeremiah Thomas) with some steals.”

Salem got a combined 25 points from its sharpshooting guards as Cam Sampson finished with 13 markers and Trent Fink was right behind with 12 points.

The Quakers had five three-pointers in the game to the Warriors’ three. Fink scored all 12 of his points on four three-pointers.

Andres said the Salem vs. West Branch rivalry is special.

“The communities are behind you and the schools are behind you,” said Andres of the great rivalry played before another large crowd in the Quakers’ gym.

West Branch will entertain another Columbiana County team Tuesday night when the Columbiana Clippers visit Beloit in an independent contest. The Clippers are 8-3 on the season.

Salem will host Columbiana County rival East Liverpool in the Kent State Classic Tuesday night. The Potters are 10-2 on the campaign and are coming off a 77-51 win over Weir Tuesday night.

This story was originally published January 13, 2024 at 8:44 AM.