‘D’-fiant Canton stymies hot-shooting Salem in 32-28 win
Canton junior Devyn Reiger launches a three-point shot during the first half of the Cobras’ 32-28 victory over Salem.
In a game where points were precious and few, Canton’s girls basketball team outlasted Salem, 32-28, Friday night in the first P-CEP rivalry meeting of the 2025-26 season.
The game’s biggest lead was 27-19 Canton after McKinsey Berlin swished a three-point shot with at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Rocks then reeled off five straight points — three on an and-one by Stella Stotz — to rally to within 27-24.
Salem battled back to make it a one-possession game — 30-27 — after Haley Steckel knocked down a corner triple to counter a three from Cobra Ashley Garcia.
A put-back from Berlin with 2:15 to play gave Canton a 32-27 lead and both defenses took over after that with a Stotz free throw the lone point scored in the last two minutes.
Berlin a factor from baseline to baseline
Berlin enjoyed a great night at both ends of the floor, scoring a game-high 13 points with four blocked shots. Garcia added eight points and Devyn Reiger netted six.
The Rocks, who started the season by shooting the lights out from three-point land, struggled from the perimeter. Stotz led Salem with seven points. Lainey Claramunt adde3d six points and Elissa Antoun contributed five.
Both teams played relentless defense from the opening tip, with players hitting the floor for loose balls at a rapid pace.
On most occasions, when Salem ball-handlers managed to get by their defender, Berlin was waiting in the paint to either swat or alter their shots.
Defensive-minded battle
The first quarter ended with the two rivals deadlocked at 4-4. Canton never trailed after building a 13-9 halftime lead. Nine of Berlin’s 13 points came in the second half.
A highlight for Salem came in the third quarter when Claramunt and Antoun executed a perfect pick-and-roll that led to an Antoun bucket.
Both teams made three treys. Canton was 3-for-4 from the free-throw line; Salem hit 5-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Canton improved to 3-1 under first-year head coach Jamaal Rhodes, with the Cobras’ lone loss coming Dec. 16 in overtime at South Lyon.
Salem, which has scored 55 points or more in three of its first five games, slipped to 3-2.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
