SALEM, OR - Wednesday, 12-22-21 - Hail to the champions, and for the first time in Capitol City Classic history those champions are a team from Oregon. A hometown team from Salem, no less.
West Salem (6-1) gutted out a hard-fought, come-from-behind win over Wilsonville, in an all-Oregon championship game that featured toughness, defense and physicality.
In the end, the Titans won behind the great leadership and inspirational play of senior guard Jon Breyman, the rugged interior combination of 6'6 senior post Brooks Ferguson and 6'7 sophomore post Trent Ferguson, and some timely contributions of wings Tommy Slack and Jackson Leach.
For three quarters, the outcome looked like it might be different.
The Wildcats, playing in their record-setting third consecutive CCC championship game, built a 35-30 lead in a contest that felt more like a playoff game than a preseason affair. With every possession, shot and rebound contested, scoring was hard to come by for both teams. Through three quarters, Wilsonville was getting the better of it.
But Coach Travis Myers' Titans were not to be denied, and they rallied in the final period to win their first-ever Johnny Leonard Trophy. Leach hit a huge three-point shot that gave West Salem its first lead since early in the game at 38-