Lights out: Salem Hills boys basketball uses great shooting to get win at Maple Mountain | News, Sports, Jobs

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Salem Hills senior Jackson Nelson goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Cayden Hansen shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Christian Snarr looks to pass during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Jackson Nelson goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Jackson Hallows goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills Jr. Chase DeGraffenried shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

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Maple Mountain XXXX goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain junior Matt Peterson goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain junior Brogan Miles goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain junior Jaynee Tanner goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Jackson Nelson goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Salem Hills senior Cayden Hansen shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Salem Hills senior Christian Snarr looks to pass during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Salem Hills senior Jackson Nelson goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Salem Hills senior Jackson Hallows goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Salem Hills Jr. Chase DeGraffenried shoots a 3-pointer during the Region 9 game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Maple Mountain XXXX goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Maple Mountain junior Matt Peterson goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Maple Mountain junior Brogan Miles goes up for a layup during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Maple Mountain junior Jaynee Tanner goes up for a shot during the Region 9 game against Salem Hills in Spanish Fork on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

It wasn’t exactly surprising to see both the Salem Hills and Maple Mountain boys basketball teams make a lot of shots from downtown in Friday’s Region 9 game in Spanish Fork, since both squads have some really good shooters.

The Skyhawks and Golden Eagles combined to drain an impressive 13 3-pointers in the first half. Unfortunately for Maple Mountain, Salem Hills hit nine of those as the visitors built a huge lead.

The Golden Eagles tried to come back in the second half but the hole was too deep and the Skyhawks stayed comfortably in front, rolling to the 74-53 victory.

Salem Hills head coach Blake Francom said this might have been the best game he has seen from his team all year because it was a solid performance at both ends of the court.

“That’s been our biggest issue,” Francom said. “In too many games we’ve been inconsistent in one area. We will be great on the defensive end and struggle to get going offensively and have some continuity, or we will be great offensively and scoring and we won’t be locked in defensively. This game, especially in the first half, everything was firing on all cylinders. It’s kind of what we’ve been waiting for.”

The Skyhawks scored the first 10 points of the game — and the long-range barrage was just getting going.

Salem Hills went on to hit five more treys in the first quarter, then three in a row in the second period as everyone seemed to be hitting.

“I think we were 9-of-18 in the first half,” Francom said. “Usually making nine in a game is a good night. The biggest thing was that we just found the right player.”

While the shooting and inside play, led by senior Jackson Nelson, was really good on the offensive end, the Skyhawks were shutting down Maple Mountain at the other end as well.

Salem Hills frequently used its size advantage to force the home team into difficult shots, while getting a number of blocks as well.

But although the Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 30 in the first half, they didn’t just quit.

Maple Mountain ended the half on a 10-3 run, then scored 10 of the first 12 points in the second half to cut the deficit to 15 points at 49-34.

That would be as close as the Golden Eagles would get, however, as the Skyhawks answered with a 14-2 run of their own to virtually put the game away.

Francom was pleased to see some things click for his team and hopes its a good sign as Salem Hills starts the home stretch of the 2022-23 season.

“I love this team,” Francom said. “I think we have really good balance. We have a lot of guys who can score. Chase DeGraffenried can score at all three levels and I think Zach Nelson is the best defensive player in the state. Jackson Nelson is a beast inside. I think the only thing we have been waiting for is some consistency. This is a good time of year to start finding that.”

He said that to get that, his athletes need to “belief and coming to games focused.”

“Sometimes they have a tough time believing in themselves and struggling with confidence,” Francom said. “I hope they can come with the same focus they did tonight every night. I think this is a good starting point.”

The Skyhawks (9-7) get their next chance to show improvement when they host Provo on Tuesday, while Maple Mountain (4-11) will look to bounce back when it plays at Springville the same night.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 pm

Salem Hills girls hoops holds off Maple Mountain

Both the Skyhawk and the Golden Eagle girls basketball teams have gone through a lot of challenging times in 2022-23, but that meant that Friday night’s matchup in Spanish Fork was going to result in someone getting a win.

It turned out to be Salem Hills that eventually secured the 44-40 victory — but it certainly wasn’t easy.

The Skyhawks were up double-digits before Maple Mountain put together a furious comeback. Salem Hills clung to a narrow lead, with the Golden Eagles missing a number of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that would’ve put the home team in front.

The Skyhawk lead was three points with 18 seconds left in the game and Salem Hills came up with a big block on a 3-point attempt by Maple Mountain. With 5.7 seconds to go, the Golden Eagles were fouled on the rebound and made one of two foul shots, missing the second intentionally.

The ensuing scramble took three seconds of the clock but the ball went out off Salem Hills, giving Maple Mountain one final chance with the ball.

Salem Hills got another big defensive play, stealing the inbounds pass and — after the quick Golden Eagle foul — hitting both free throws to put the game away.

The Skyhawks (4-11) will look to come out on top again when they host Provo on Tuesday, while Maple Mountain (0-13) faces a tough challenge when it plays at Springville the same night.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 5:15 pm

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