It was a disappointing result for Knappa fans on Friday afternoon as Salem Academy held on to beat the Loggers 39-34.
Salem Academy won the Tri-River Conference regular season crown, but lost in the league title match to Western Christian.
This semi-finals matchup was a rematch of last-years‘ tournament where Salem Academy beat the Loggers 55-33. This go-around the game was much more evenly matched Between the 2nd-seeded Loggers and 3rd-seeded Crusaders.
The opening quarter mimicked a match between two heavyweight fighters that circle and test each other before launching punches at each other. The Loggers started the game strong with a 13-7 first quarter.
Defense and the 3-pointer defined the game.
With 11 players 6’2” or taller (3 over 6’7”), every player struggled to get clean looks at the basket. Salem Academy held Knappa to under 26% shooting in the game. Knappa also held Salem Academy to a 32% for the game.
The biggest difference came from the 3-point line. Salem Academy shot 8/20 from range while Knappa struggled to hit. Salem Academy’s John Pass made 4/6 from deep.
After a few lead changes in a back-and-forth first half, Salem Academy took over the lead with 3:09 remaining in the second quarter, and would not trail the rest of the game.
Going into the break, Salem Academy had a 5-point lead.
Out of halftime, the defenses clamped down further. Knappa scored four points in the third quarter, but Salem Academy’s Jaren Oglesby sunk a 3-pointer to keep the Crusader lead.
The only consistent source of offense for Knappa came from Logan Morrill. The 6’9” post fought through double and triple teams all night, but foul trouble forced Morrill to spend more time on the bench than usual.
With 2:36 left in the fourth quarter, Nicolas Ogier hit a 3-pointer to bring the Loggers back within 1 point of the Crusaders, but Pass hit his final 3-pointer of the game - a dagger.
Knappa fouled several times, but Salem Academy was efficient from the line and held on to the lead.
“Losing a game like that is always tough,” Knappa coach Paul Isom commented after the game.
Knappa will face East Linn Christian tomorrow at 12:15 for third place. “East Linn is playing really good basketball team peaking at the right time... I have every confidence in the world that these guys [Knappa] will come out and play ‘Knappa Basketball.’”
Salem Academy advances for a rematch of the Tri-River Conference title game against Western Christian at 5:45. “It was amazing to have all the fans here tonight,” Salem Academy coach Ben Brown said after the game. “It [the game] will come down to who’s under more control and unknown variables tomorrow,” he continued.
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