Tatum leads Salado with 21 points, 19 from free throw line

Justin Tatum scored 19 of his game-high 21 points from the free throw line, where he went 19 of 24 to lead the Salado Eagles past Marble Falls Faith Academy in the basketball season opener at home Nov. 20.

In the fourth quarter, when the Eagles closed a five-point deficit, Tatum went to the line eight times, hitting 14 of 16 tries as Salado overtook Faith Academy for the 70-59 win.

The Eagles started out to 19-13 lead in the first quarter but Faith Academy led 38-35 at the half. Faith Academy held on for a 50-45 going into the fourth.

Three Eagles managed double figures. Preston Rosebrock scored 19 points and Peyton Kyburz had 12 points, including two three pointers in the first quarter.

Also scoring for Salado were Trevor Stump, who had six of his seven points from beyond the arc, Luke Miller, who scored five points at the free throw line, Willie Whigham, who scored three points and Anthony Young, who scored two points at the free throw line.

Salaod ninth graders lost to Faith Academy 23-33 on Nov.20. The boys trailed 8-4 after the first period and scored just 9 points in the first half. Faith Academy led 23-9 at the half. Salado closed the gap to 29-18 at the end of the third.

Nick Burns led the ninth graders with six points. Also scoring for the Eagle were Jeremy Jarvis, Warren Roache II and Barrett SChoenrock, four points each, Gordy Nelson and Walker Hawkins, two points each and Corbin Davis, one point.