The South Salem varsity basketball team will host a non-conference game against Caldera on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The game will take place at South Salem High School in Salem, OR.

Here’s what you need Basketball to know:

What: Oregon High School Basketball
Who: South Salem vs Caldera
When: Friday, January 10, 2025
Time: 6:30. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

A Comparative Look at Caldera and South Salem Basketball Teams (2024-2025 Season)

As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season unfolds, the rivalry between Caldera and South Salem has caught the attention of basketball fans across Oregon. While the teams share some common traits, their performance thus far in the season showcases different styles of play, with both clubs looking to make an impact in their respective leagues and beyond.

Season Performance

Caldera’s Strong Start

Caldera, currently sporting an 8-3 overall record, has been impressive so far. With a perfect 4-0 home record, they’ve shown resilience on their home court. Their away games have been a bit more of a challenge, as they stand 2-2 in such contests, but their neutral site games have been solid at 2-1. They’ve accumulated 647 points while allowing 637, giving them a slim margin of victory but a solid overall win percentage of .727. Their offensive production, averaging 58.8 points per game, is led by a balanced attack across the quarters, scoring 15.0 points in the first and fourth, with a strong second-quarter output of 16.5 points per game.

South Salem’s Balanced Attack

South Salem, with a 5-5 record, is a more evenly matched team, splitting wins and losses evenly. Their overall win percentage stands at .500, which reflects their challenges in both home and away games. Their home record of 1-2 indicates struggles in their own gym, but they have been strong away, winning 3 of 4 games on the road. Neutral-site games have been tough for them, as they’ve only won 1 out of 3. Their overall points for and against are quite close—702 points scored and 704 points allowed, a slight negative differential. South Salem’s average points per game is higher at 70.2, though their scoring pattern is erratic, with the team scoring 20.0 points per game in the first quarter but tapering off to only 8.0 in the second. The team manages to recover well in the third, putting up 23.0 points, but struggles again in the fourth with only 12.0 points per game.

Common Opponents

One of the most intriguing aspects of this comparison is how Caldera and South Salem fare against their common opponents. Both teams have faced off against notable high school programs like Sprague, McNary, and West Linn.

• Caldera’s games against common opponents include a loss to Sprague (73-47) on December 7, 2024, but they also defeated McNary 63-58 on December 29, 2024.
• South Salem has yet to play against Sprague this season but will have their chance in January and February 2025. They’ve played McNary, and the results will unfold later in the season.

These matchups against shared opponents will be critical in measuring both teams’ capabilities and providing insights into how they stack up in the competitive landscape.

Home and Away Games

Caldera has had an exceptional record at home, undefeated with a perfect 4-0 slate. Their success on home turf has been pivotal to their strong start. In contrast, South Salem has faced more adversity in front of their home crowd, posting a disappointing 1-2 record at home. However, they have excelled on the road, winning 3 out of 4 away games, which is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Head-to-Head and Future Matchups

Looking ahead, the two teams won’t face off directly until later in the season. With their contrasting records and styles of play, their eventual head-to-head matchup will be a highly anticipated event. Although Caldera leads with a stronger overall record, South Salem’s high-scoring ability and knack for resilience on the road will provide a tough challenge.

Conclusion

Both Caldera and South Salem have their strengths and weaknesses, but they each bring unique qualities to the court. Caldera’s strong home play and defensive resilience make them a formidable opponent, while South Salem’s high-octane offense and road dominance give them an edge in neutral and away games. As the season continues, it will be exciting to see how these two teams perform in their upcoming matchups and whether one can separate itself from the other in terms of state rankings. Fans can look forward to more thrilling basketball action as the season heats up!