Unless South Salem or Wilsonville can pull off what looks to be a pretty big upset, one of the two out-of-state powers in the CCC will be taking home the Johnny Leonard Trophy
SALEM, OR - Well, the rest of the Capitol City Classic field knew it would not be easy.
So far, everything has gone very much according to form, although it has transpired differently than most may have expected.
Rancho Christian has rolled, winning by 40 points on opening night and then backed that up with a 33-point shellacking of a good Sherwood team on Friday... and all of that is without 7'0 mega-star Evan Mobley, who is nursing an ankle sprain.
Against the Bowmen, five guys scored in double figures and a sixth had 9 points for Rancho. Jayce Catchings led the way with 23 points. Tough point guard Jamison Guerra led Sherwood with 21 points.
Later, Lanier of Buford, Georgia impressed with a 15-point win over a tough West Salem team. Lanier got 17 points from sweet shooting Andrew McConnell, 13 from Tulane-bound Sion James, and 12 from athletic Iajah Phillips. The Longhorns balance and athleticism were too much for the Titans, who were led by 24 points from Justin Scoggin.
South Salem beat Tigard 62-48 to become the only Mid-Valley team to advance to the semifinals, Nick Zuro led South with 18 points, while Drew Carter scored 18 for the Tigers in defeat.
In the nightcap, Wilsonville used a 39-19 second half advantage in which they shot 89% from the field (16 for 18) to pull away from Sprague 68-47. The Wildcats had four guys in double figures in Gabe Reichle (21), Andrew Classen (13), Dakota Reber (12), and Keegan Shivers (10). Sprague was led by Kobe Withers, who scored 14.
Semifinal Saturday is tonight, with Rancho Christian playing South Salem at 8:00pm and Lanier taking on Wilsonville at 9:30pm.
2019 CAPITOL CITY CLASSIC
Willamette University; Salem, OR
Friday, 12/21 Results
Consolation Quarterfinals
Silverton Foxes 83, Thurston Colts 45
West Albany Bulldogs 68, Parkrose Broncos 42
Corvallis Spartans 73, Scappoose Indians 39
Championship Quarterfinals
Rancho Christian Eagles (Temecula, CA) 101, Sherwood Bowmen 68
South Salem Saxons 62, Tigard Tigers 48
Lanier Longhorns (Buford, GA) 64, West Salem Titans 49
Wilsonville Wildcats 64, Sprague Olympians 49
SATURDAY, 12/22 SCHEDULE
Consolation Quarterfinal
10:00am - Wilson Trojans vs. Central Panthers
4th Place Semifinals
11:30am - TIgard Tigers vs. Sherwood Bowmen
6:30pm - West Salem Titans vs. Sprague Olympians
Championship Semifinals
8:00pm - Rancho Christian Eagles (Temecula, CA) vs. South Salem Saxons
9:30pm - Lanier Longhorns (Buford, GA) vs. Wilsonville Wildcats
The 16-team, bracketed four-round tournament will continue through "Championship Monday", December 23.
2019 CCC SPECIAL EVENTS
Please see https://www.capitolcityclassic.com/schedules
Contest Extravaganza featuring Les Schwab Tires Slam Dunk Contest - 5:45pm or so on Sunday, 12/22
Tickets are no longer available online, but can be purchased at the gate at Willamette University.