Tyler West Jr. reacts after being fouled on Sunday, May 22, against the Bakersfield Magic at the Salem Armory Auditorium. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
In the second to last weekend of the season, the Salem Capitals are starting to look to be in postseason form after a rough stretch in the second half of the season.
Vincent Boumann and Paul Hafford put the Capitals on their backs and led the way for a pair of wins over the weekend, scoring 128 points combined in the two games.
On Saturday, May 21, in Vancouver, the Capitals rolled to a 123-93 win in which they only trailed once, 6-4, and that only lasted for eight seconds.
Boumann had 34 points on 14-for-24 shooting, and 5-for-8 at the line. Boumann also grabbed 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Hafford’s Saturday produced a double-double as well, 31 points and 14 rebounds. Hafford, a 33% 3-point shooter on the season, was 4-for-8 on Saturday.
As a team, the Capitals shot 52%, a big turnaround from recent weeks in which the shooting percentage was way down.
Hafford said he’s always confident as a shooter, attributing it to having taken millions of shots in his life as the self-described “Old guy on the team.”
But the team game is what he feels gets the team’s confidence up.
“All of us become confident in our shots together when we pass the ball,” Hafford said. “Move the thing quick and on time on target. That makes good shooters.”
The team shooting cooled down on Sunday against the Magic, as the Capitals shot just 25% from beyond the arc.
But Hafford stayed hot. He was 5-for-11 from three, and finished with 26 points and eight assists.
Boumann, the most consistent offensive piece for the Capitals this season, was completely dominant inside. His 37 points and 16 rebounds led both teams, and the big man was 8-for-9 from the free throw line.
Tyler West Jr. messed around for the Capitals and dropped a triple double on Sunday with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Capitals now head into the final week of the regular season in third place in the West. With all six teams making the playoffs, they still have a chance at a first round bye if they can win out and the SoCal Moguls drop both their games this weekend.
Salem visits Vancouver for a rematch with the Volcanoes on Friday, May 27, and then host the San Diego Sharks on Sunday, May 29.
Jahlin Smith goes up with his left handin the second half of the game on Sunday,May 22, against the Bakersfield Magic at the Salem Armory Auditorium. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
Dominique “Domo” Lawrence dunks theball in the second quarter against the Bakersfield Magic on Sunday, May 22, atthe Salem Armory Auditorium. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)