Salem scores division-best 77 points in rout of rival Plymouth
Salem’s Darrell Williams lays in two of his eight points against Plymouth.
Picked as one of the pre-season favorites to win the KLAA West Division, Salem’s boys basketball team put on a show Tuesday night against rival Plymouth.
Following a hotly-contested first quarter (Salem led 15-12), the Rocks pulled away to earn a 77-44 victory thanks to 22-point and 23-point second and third quarters, respectively.
The 77 points are the most scored by any team in a KLAA West Division game this season.
Salem’s defense played at a superior level as well, holding Plymouth’s prolific scorer Zerry Rue to just two points — both coming on second-half free throws. Rue was in foul trouble throughout the game after picking up two in the first three minutes.
Double trouble
The Rocks actually doubled the Wildcats’ point total (58-29) with two minutes remaining in the third quarter when senior Nye Turner completed and and-one.
The play that drew the loudest reaction from the crowd was Salem senior Liam Reynolds’ second-quarter dunk.
Salem improved to 10-3 overall and 3-3 in the West — three games behind unbeaten Hartland.
Plymouth slipped to 4-10 and 2-4, respectively.
So much for comparables …
Based on recent KLAA West comparable results, a closer game was expected. Plymouth defeated Howell, 46-43, on Dec. 18, while Salem lost to Howell, 55-54, on Jan. 6.
Four Rocks finished with double-digit scoring numbers: Mitch Paspal led the way with 12 points, Turner netted 11, while Reynolds and Landen Stone both scored 10.
Luke Creighton chipped in with nine points, one more than Darrell Williams.
The Rocks visited the free-throw line 27 times, hitting 17 of their freebies.
Chayse Calvin was the lone Wildcat in double figures, scoring 11. Noah Bravo added eight, and Isaiah Hooks and Preston Sholler contributed seven each.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
