LOWELL — The Salem High School boys basketball team won Massachusetts’ first-ever state championship in the sport back in 1926.
Exactly 100 years later, they’ve now captured their fourth state title.
The Witches, seeded second in the Division 3 state playoff draw, took down top seed Hanover, 57-51, Saturday night at the Tsongas Center. By doing so, they won their first state basketball crown since 1995 … and first state championship of any kind for Salem High since 1999.
Junior guard and team captain Elian Rodriguez, as he did for all five of his team’s playoff games, led the Witches in scoring with 27 points. Fellow captain Nate Lane, a senior, added 12 points while another senior, Cesar Mesa Castillo, stole a Hanover inbounds pass with 20 seconds remaining to help seal the victory.
For complete coverage of Salem’s championship triumph, please turn to sports beginning on Page 9.
— Phil Stacey