High school boys basketball: Late hustle plays lifts Salem Hills past Juan Diego for 9th consecutive victory

Key Highlights

• Juan Diego plays fast and utilizes its size and athleticism in transition, but Salem Hills managed to slow the pace and get the ball into the half-court. One of the biggest issues Salem Hills had to deal with was Juan Diego’s Deng Deng.
• At 6-foot-8, Deng has already racked up more than 45 blocks this season and is second in the state in total blocks.
• He had four in the first quarter alone. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Deng helped protect the inside, Salem Hills still managed to get quality shots, particularly from Elijah Gasser, who led the team with 17 points.“(The message was) not to be scared of him, not shy away,” Gasser said.
• “Shot-fake, bump into him, create some contact in space and go up strong and finish over him.
• He blocked a lot of shots; he’s tall and long, but don’t let him affect our other shots.”Salem Hills moved the ball around and stayed disciplined, but Juan Diego’s strength in transition kept it a five-point game at halftime. The third quarter is when things started to fall apart for the Skyhawks. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Soaring Eagles struggled from beyond the arc in the first half and didn’t make a single 3-pointer until right before halftime.