By STEVE KNOX
Sports Connection Team
MANILA - Osceola built a 28-21 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Manila junior Lions 61-51 in boys basketball action Saturday at Manila.
The junior Seminoles and junior Lions battled back and forth during a tight first quarter which saw Osceola grab a 13-11 lead after one period of play.
The Seminoles would outscore Manila 15-10 in the second period to open up a 28-21 lead at the break.
Osceola would hold Manila to only nine third quarter points while increasing its lead to 45-30 heading to the final period.
The junior Lions would make a push in the final period as Salomon scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the period, but Osceola would stay in front as Jaylen Hatch, who led Osceola with 19 points, scored seven fourth quarter points.
In the end, Osceola would hang to post the 10-point conference victory.
The junior Lions, in addition to Salomon, got 10 points from ESPN Burrow.
Osceola had five players score in double figures. In addition to Hatch’s big game, Marvell Carr scored 12 points, while Johnny Spears, Dedrick Coleman and Fabius Hughes all scored 10 points. Zac Burnett added two points for Osceola and was the only non-starter to score for the junior Seminoles.