Salem Capitals forward Jameel Tolbert recorded 23 points and teammates Kylor Kelley and Preston Whitfield each added 22 points as the Salem (OR) Capitals avenged their Friday loss (96-95) to the Great Falls Electric by downing the home team, 104-91 on Saturday night in Great Falls Montana.
Lyle Hexom needed 40 seconds of the first quarter to score the first points for Great Falls. Kylor Kelley, who finished with 22 points, evened the score on the next possession for the Capitals. Kelley, who calls the state of Oregon home, scored the first six points for the visitors. Psalm Maduakor, Preston Whitfield and Joseph Billinger, Jr. scored six straight points before Antwaan Cushingberry (Great Falls) connected on a long-distance trey. The Electric trailed 12-5 with 7:59 left. Salem held a 29-20 advantage after the first twelve minutes. Antwaan Cushingberry tallied five points while Kylor Kelley accounted for 12 of the 29 points for Salem.
During the second quarter, Salem’s offense outscored the Electric, 29-13. Tyreek Price chipped in the first four points for the Oregon team. The Capitals led by as many as 18 points and took a 58-43 advantage into the locker room.
Lyle Hexom, who ended his night with 12 markers, scored the first basket for Great Falls to open the third quarter to cut the deficit to 58-45. Preston Whitfield reeled off six consecutive points during a 35 second span (64-45). Former Choteau High School and University of Providence (Great Falls, MT) standout, Isaac Howard drained a jump shot with 2:42 remaining that ignited a 10-0 run for the host team. Andrew Whitsett (2 points) and Antwaan Cushingberry (6 points) rounded out the scoring drive.
The fourth and final quarter began with Salem leading 75-61. Both teams combined for 59 fourth quarter points. The Capitals, coached by Kevin Johnson Jr., maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way to prevent the weekend sweep by Great Falls.
Despite the loss, the Electric still remains in third place ahead of Salem with four games left in the 2024 The Basketball League season. Great Falls will play the Seattle Super Hawks (11-5, 2nd place) on the road before finishing the season with three contests with the Wenatchee (WA) Bighorns (5-7, 5th place). The top three teams in the TBL’s West Conference’s Pacific Northwest Division advance to the 2024 TBL Playoffs in June.
Jameel Tolbert, one of three players on Salem’s roster to score over 20 points, led the way with 23 including 5-for-7 from three-point land. Preston Whitfield and Kylor Kelley tossed in 22 points apiece. Kelley also pulled down 16 rebounds.
The Electric, who were denied their tenth victory, received 24 points and six assists from Antwaan Cushingberry. Lamine Komara and Lyle Hexom teamed up for 20 points. Brandon Jamar was the top rebounder with 12. Great Falls struggled at the free throw line converting 56% of their shots. Salem made 76% from the charity stripe.
NEXT CONTEST: Great Falls enters their final road trip of the 2024 TBL season with a single game against the Seattle Super Hawks (11-5, 2nd place) on Thursday, May 9th and a date with the Wenatchee (WA) Bighorns on Friday, May 10th. Both tipoffs are scheduled for 8:00PM (MST).
Great Falls and Wenatchee will meet in Great Falls on May 24-25 for the final regular season games of the season. Those games will be at the C.M. Russell High School Fieldhouse due to the 2024 Montana State AA & C Track Meet taking place at Great Falls High’s Memorial Stadium on Labor Day Weekend.
The Salem Capitals return to their home arena (The Salem Armory Auditorium) for two games when the winless Emerald City (Eugene, OR) Jaguars (0-16, 6th place) visit on Friday, May 10th, and a Sunday contest (May 12) with the Seattle Super Hawks (11-5, 2nd place).
