Rocks survive intense overtime rematch with ‘Cats in district opener
Salem’s Landen Stone slips a pass around Plymouth defender Isaiah Hooks and into the hands of Nye Turner during Monday’s MHSAA district game at Belleville.
It was the little things — a tipped pass, a ball that decided to pop out of the net after traveling half-way down, a box-out — that ultimately decided Monday night’s thrilling Salem-vs.-Plymouth MHSAA District-opening game at Belleville High School.
Trailing 37-27 early in the fourth quarter, the Rocks gradually chipped away at their deficit before taking a 42-40 lead late in the fourth quarter on two free throws from Nye Turner and one from Mitch Paspal.
With less than 10 seconds on the clock, Plymouth’s Chayse Calvin secured a pass from Noah Bravo on the left wing, drove hard to the hoop and drew a shooting foul with just a few ticks left in regulation.
Calvin calmly swished both free throws to send the game into overtime.
Steady at the stripe
Thanks to clutch free-throw shooting from Paspal, Ezekiel Chinyadza and Turner, Salem seized a 52-50 lead with 15 seconds left in overtime on two Chinyadza freebies with 15 seconds left.
Plymouth immediately got the ball into the hands of their top scoring threat, Zerry Rue, who dribbled up the right side before cutting left and into the lane.
Covered tightly by Salem’s Liam Reynolds, Rue delivered a bounce pass inside to Isaiah Hooks, however, Turner tipped the pass, creating a scrum under the basket.
Hooks got control of the ball and put up a short, contested shot off the glass that eased through the rim before rolling out. As Rue attempted to collect the rebound, he was boxed out by Reynolds, allowing Turner to chase down the loose ball and cement the Rocks’ dramatic 52-50 win.
Mitch was clutch
Paspal was the brightest star in a galaxy of Rock stars, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
His two clutch free throws in the final minute of overtime were difference-makers in a win-or-go-home game.
“When I went to the line, I just tried to stay composed because I missed one just before overtime,” Paspal said. “I just tried to stay calm and I knocked both down.”
The Rocks, who drained their last six free throws in crunch time, focus on shooting from the line in practice, Salem Head Coach Ryan Nimmerguth said.
“Those were huge free throws we made at the end, especially in overtime,” Nimmerguth said. “It’s not easy to do. We shoot a lot of free throws in practice and we talk a lot about how free throws can win or lose a game, which we’ve done both this season. Tonight we knocked them down when we needed to.”
Riveting rally
Nimmerguth praised his team for the way it rallied when down 37-27 in the fourth quarter.
“We just told them, ‘One possession at a time’,” he said. “Being down 10 points in the fourth quarter is never a good thing, but we still had six minutes left, which is a lot of time.
“It was all about getting quality possessions on offense and stringing together a few stops on the defensive end.”
After struggling to score 27 points in the first 26 minutes of the game, the Rocks started rolling, scoring 25 points over the final 10 minutes of the contest.
Turner was pivotal
In addition to Paspal, Turner was an offensive dynamo, scoring 12 points along with pulling down several big rebounds.
Reynolds finished with eight points, including an electric reverse layup, and Darrel Williams chipped in with seven, including a huge fourth-quarter three.
Rue was spectacular in his final game as a Wildcats, netting 23 points while connecting on seven of eight free throws.
Noah Bravo added eight points off the bench while his twin brother, Eli, scored seven.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
