The Salem High girls got their post-season off to a great start with a 34-17 win over Blacksburg on Monday at Blacksburg. The Bruins were the higher seed so it was somewhat of an upset.
“Blacksburg played hard and battled and there were no easy baskets,” said Salem coach Berlyn Seitz. “This is how tournament basketball normally works. Blacksburg is well coached and they took away a lot of the things we wanted to do.”
Salem led the entire game and had an 8-2 lead after one period and
a 15-7 lead at the half, as Moriah Hill hit a tough shot right before the end of the half.
At the end of three quarters the Spartans led 20-12 , then they pulled away in the fourth quarter behind several young players . Sophomore My’La Greene scored nine points in the second half to go with eight rebounds and freshman Daisy Ann Dawyot played strong in the post . Kennedy Scales added seven points for the Spartans as they improved to 2-4 on the season.
Salem was scheduled to take on the tournament’s top seed, Pulaski County, in Dublin on Wednesday night, but results were too late for publication. The Spartans lost to Pulaski twice during the regular season, including a 59-41 loss at home last week for “Senior Night,” recognizing seniors Moriah Hill, McKenzie Moran . Hayley Merritt and Autumn Poole .
“All of them were in the program for four years and in the case of Moran she was a four year varsity player,” said Salem assistant coach Brad Bradley. “They all have been a huge part of our program and will be greatly missed.”
If Salem was able to upset Pulaski the Spartans would play in the regional championship Friday at the site of the highest remaining seed.
