It should only get easier for the Siuslaw Vikings boys basketball team.

Tuesday, the Vikings opened Sky-Em League play with a 79-48 loss to the defending-champion Marist Spartans in Eugene.

Siuslaw, 3-1 overall, hosts Marshfield at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, then plays at Elmira at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Junior Braydon Thornton led the Vikings with a game-high 28 points, including 16 in the first half. Junior Avery Hart added 6 and junior Brody Terry 5.

Senior forward Alec Vendetti led the Spartans with 21 points. Senior guard Treysn Harbert added 14 and senior forward Ben Morehouse 13.

The Spartans had 11 3-pointers by seven different players.

Marist, ranked No. 1 at the end of last season, is off to a 3-0 start, including a 63-41 win at Churchill and 48-40 against Harrisburg.

The Spartans were 10-0 in league last season, 22-3 overall, with 48-31 and 64-37 wins over the Vikings.

SIUSLAW  12 14 16   6 — 48
MARIST    21 18 20 15 — 76
Siuslaw — Braydon Thornton 10 6-10 28, Avery Hart 3 0-0 6, Brody Terry 2 0-0 5, Liam McClellan 0 3-3 3, Harrison Hubner 1 0-0 2, Clay Kramer 1 0-0 2, Izacc Mattson 1 0-0 2, Camp Lacouture 0 0-2 0, Skyler Loomis 0 0-2 0, Jacob Foskett 0 0-0 0, Skyler Mattson 0 0-0 0, Tyrone Krohn 0 0-0 0, Aiden Jeffris 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 9-17 48.
3-point goals: Braydon Thornton 2, Brody Terry 1.
Marist — Alec Vendetti  9 1-1 21, Treysn Harbert 5 1-4 14, Ben Morehouse 5 1-1 13, Will Ficek 3 0-0 6, Cole Tyner 2 0-0 5, Luke Eagen 2 0-0 5, Sam Eagen 1 0-0 3, Boston Frey 1 0-0 3, Jackson Whittaker 1 0-0 2, Ryan Cary 1 0-0 2, Lucas Franssen 1 0-0 2. Totals 31 3-6 76.
3-point goals: Treysn Harbert 3, Alec Vendetti 2, Ben Morehouse 2, Cole Tyner 1, Sam Eagen 1, Luke Eagen 1, Boston Frey 1.