Salem soars over Skyline in impressive home opener
Salem sophomore point guard Stella Stotz lays in two of her 12 points.
When the Ann Arbor Skyline-vs.-Salem girls basketball game’s score was deadlocked at 8-8 early Thursday night, it appeared as if it was destined to be a Thriller.
Just over an hour after the opening tip, however, it was more like Nightmare on Joy Road for the visiting Eagles.
Salem’s young and restless team broke the early tie with a 10-0 run that ultimately led to a 55-24 Rock victory.
The Rocks, who were upended by the Eagles one year earlier, improved their record to 2-0.
Four Rocks hit double figures
The winners’ scoring ledger was as balanced as a tightrope walker. Sophomore Lainey Claramunt paced the Rocks with 15 points. Sophomore Stella Stotz and freshman Haley Steckel both scored 12, while junior Julia Steinhebel netted 10.
Rebekah Klein led Skyline with five points.
Salem overcame a dose of early foul trouble to dominate the Eagles. Claramunt collected her second foul mid-way through the first quarter, forcing a brief stint on the bench, while Stotz was called for her fourth foul just over one minute into the third quarter.
The Rocks led 13-8 after one quarter, 27-12 at the half and 41-21 with eight minutes to play.
No letdowns
Salem was the model of consistency, tallying 13 points in the first quarter and 14 points in each of the final three stanzas.
The Rocks’ offense operated with the efficiency of an Indy Race car’s engine, reversing the ball rapidly when the Eagles played a zone, and cutting and passing sharply against a man-to-man defense.
When Skyline defenders overplayed the Rock they were responsible for guarding, Salem ran multiple back-door cuts that led to easy buckets.
If ninth-grader Steckel was fazed playing in her first varsity game at home, she didn’t show it. Wearing No. 1, the freshman buried four triples to frustrate the Eagles’ zone defense.
Saab was steady
Salem sophomore Lillian Saab didn’t score, but she handled the ball with care when filling in at point guard for Stotz.
Among the biggest cheers throughout the night were reserved for the fourth quarter following baskets by freshman Natalie Lawler and Mina Newson.
The Rocks open their KLAA West Division schedule on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Canton. The opening tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
