Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Stout defense saves Salem
The Spartans shoot just 27 percent but force 31 turnovers to hold off William Fleming.
varsity.roanoke.com
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Any time spent practicing half-court offense this week at Salem or William Fleming was time wasted.
Each ran frantic end-to-end, dash-and-slash offenses that were long on style but short on accuracy as the Salem girls basketball team outlasted its Fleming counterparts 51-47 Tuesday on the Spartans' home floor.
Salem shot just 27 percent for the game, including 17 percent in the second half, but a stout defense forced 31 Fleming turnovers, keeping the game nearly even throughout.
When the Colonels got shots, their accuracy wasn't much better, hitting only a third of their 42 attempts, but it was the clunkers from the free-throw line that was the difference in the game, Fleming coach Champ Hubbard said.
"Our missed opportunities at the free-throw line was what cost us," Hubbard said. "We usually make those."
The Colonels were 13-for-25 in a game in which there was no shortage of chances from the stripe. Salem was whistled for its seventh team foul of the second half with a minute left in the third quarter, and a parade of free throws followed, but neither team could buy a basket.
The Spartans made only 15 of 25 foul shots.
Despite cold shooting hands, Salem coach DeWayne Harrell was pleased with the effort of his team. Both teams went deep into their benches to keep fresh legs on the court.
Switching defense at halftime from a man-to-man into a full-court zone press, the Spartans forced 13 Fleming turnovers in the third period alone, turning a one-point halftime deficit to a five-point lead.
Stout rebounding and the occasional field goal allowed the Colonels to tie the game, but Salem guard Alexius Patterson broke the tie with two free throws, then scored a 3-pointer to push the lead right back to five.
Patterson led all scorers with 18 points.
After Tashia Pack sank two free throws to cut the lead to three, the teams traded possessions. Salem was then able to bleed the clock in a game of keep-away that ran into the last minute. Ataijah Taylor made two free throws for Salem, but Tiasha McGeorge drained a 3 to trim the lead to two, but that was as close as Fleming could get.
Hubbard said he scheduled aggressively in the out-of-district portion of the Colonels' season so they would be ready to take on a Group AAA district and play deep into the postseason.
"This was a good test for us," Hubbard said. "They have really good guard play. I don't feel like we stepped up to the challenge tonight. Salem showed they were hungry and they wanted it more, but we are a work in progress.
"I want us to hit our stride in late December when we start playing in the district."
After a trip to Northern Virginia this weekend to take on highly-ranked Stonewall Jackson and Oakton, Fleming will play host to Salem on Tuesday.
WILLIAM FLEMING (4-2)
McGeorge 2 0-0 6, Tench 0 0-0 0, Bannister 0 2-2 2, Anderson 3 2-5 10, Stovall 4 4-7 12, Pack 1 2-2 5, Haynes 2 1-4 6, Coleman 2 2-5 6, Harvey 0 0-0 0, Saunders 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 13-25 47.
SALEM (4-0)
Patterson 6 4-4 18, Payne 0 2-2 2, Kawa 1 0-0 3, Richardson 2 0-0 4, Belcher 1 0-1 2, Garst 4 0-0 11, Poindexter 0 4-6 4, Taylor 1 5-12 7, England 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 15-25 51.
William Fleming 13 16 8 10 -- 47
Salem 12 16 14 9 -- 51
3-point goals -- WF 6 (McGeorge 2, Anderson 2, Pack, Haynes), Salem 5 (Patterson 2, Garst 2, Kawa). Total fouls -- WF 18, Salem 20. Fouled out -- Bannister (WF), Payne (Salem). JV--Fleming 46-22.
