Final Score: Salem Academy 41 Bandon 35
Salem Academy is bigger and stronger, Bandon might be faster and quicker. The biggest change in the game, where Bandon began their comeback, was when they began to press SA. Turnovers, easy opportunities for points, and, most importantly, avoiding the half court defense anchored by Aly and Lexi Herber that held Bandon at bay offensively throughout the whole first half. When rebounding became less of a factor, when Bandon wasn’t forced to shoot from the outside every possession, they competed with the consensus #1 team in 2A Girls Basketball. Salem Academy is clearly the better squad physically, but this isn’t a matchup Bandon can’t exploit in the future.
If this is a quarterfinal preview, it isn’t untenable to think Bandon will press from the outset when they meet in Pendleton. In that kind of contest where SA is sped up, unable to set up in the half court on every possession, the Tigers have a real shot.
Leading scorers: Lexi Herber (SA) 17, Katelynn Synn (Bandon) 15, Aly Herber (SA), 14 Rachel Eickoff (Bandon) 11
