TheSalem Capitals are an American professional basketball team based inSalem, Oregon, and a member ofThe Basketball League (TBL). They play their home games in the Salem Armory, which seats 3,000 for basketball.
On December 6, 2020, Evelyn Magley, CEO ofThe Basketball League (TBL), stated thatSalem, Oregon, was approved as a basketball franchise withJason Conrad the inaugural team owner.[1] The Capitals opted to sit out the 2021 season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[2] Their motto is "community culture" and the team actively focuses on and participates in community engagement projects and outings.[3]
The Capitals began the season 0-2 before winning 6 straight and finishing the month of April with a record of 8-6. On April 28th during the third quarter of a home game against the Wenatchee Bighorns, Jason Conrad collapsed on the sideline. Fans were evacuated and the game was postponed to be finished at a later date. Conrad quickly made a full recovery. Due to Pacific Northwest conference teams playing a varying amount of regular season games, playoff standings were to be decided by win percentage. The top two playoff seeds were the Vancouver Volcanoes (16-4) and the Seattle Super Hawks (16-8). The Capitals went on to finish the regular season with a record of with a regular season record of 13-10 (.565 win percentage) while the Bighorns finished 10-9 (.526 win percentage). Due to the closeness of their respective win percentages, it was decided that the Capitals and Bighorns resume the unfinished game in Seattle on May 28th, with the winner playing the Super Hawks in the first round of the playoffs later that night. In unprecedented fashion, the game was resumed with 5:26 left in the third quarter with a score of Capitals 76, Bighorns 66.[4] The Capitals went on to win the game 111-106, moving their record to 14-10. Despite a valiant effort and long day of basketball, they subsequently lost to the Super Hawks 130-127 later that night, ending their season.
Joseph (Allen) Billinger Jr - All West Conference Second Team, TBL National Player of the Week #5, AB3 MVP Award*, Averaged 18.5 points and 5 assists per game.[5]
Preston Whitfield - All West Conference Second Team, Swaggy P Offensive Player of the Year Award*, Averaged 22.5 points per game and 43.9% from three point range.[6]
Kylor Kelley - All Defensive First Team, K-P Defensive Player of the Year Award*, Averages 3.9 blocks and .9 steals per game.[7]
Psalm Maduakor - K-P Defensive Player of the Year Award*
Jameel Tolbert - Meel Work Most Improved Player Award*
Taylor Webster - T Webb Teammate of the Year Award*
The Capitals began the season 5-7 before winning 10 of the 13 remaining regular season games, finishing with a regular season record of 15-10, good for second place in the Northwest division (within the West conference). They won a thrilling first round playoff game over theVancouver Volcanoes 117-114[8] before falling to the Seattle Super Hawks during the West Conference Semi-Finals in a best two out of three series.
On March 4, 2022, the team's inaugural season began with a 116-100 win[11] over theVancouver Volcanoes. They went on to win their next seven consecutive games before a 127-125 loss[11] to theCalifornia Sea-Kings on April 1. They finished the regular-season with a record of 17-7,[11] good for third place in the West Conference. They swept theVancouver Volcanoes in the First Round of the playoffs and then fell to theCalifornia Sea-Kings during the West Conference Semi-Finals in a best two out of three series.[11]
