Salem's girls basketball team got better as the night grew later Friday in its season-opening game against Farmington Hills Mercy.

  Unfortunately for the Rocks, the night didn't start the way it ended.

  After falling into a 17-1 first-quarter abyss, Salem dropped a 43-29 decision to the Marlins, who evened their record at 1-1.

  "I liked how the girls kept battling after the rough start," said Salem head coach Fred Thomann. "We got better quarter by quarter and we outscored them, 12-2, in the fourth quarter, so that was a positive thing.

  "Mercy is a very good basketball team. Six of their top eight players are seniors and we only have one senior."

  Salem's lone senior, Heidi Schmidt, played well, scoring 13 points to go with six rebounds. Jennifer First and Breanne Beaver both added four points.

  Katie Heitmeyer contributed five rebounds for the Rocks, who got four boards from Beaver.

  Candace Leatherwood paced a balanced Mercy attack with eight points. Abby Lovat scored seven and Sarah Benson chipped in with six.

  Salem trailed 28-7 at the half and 41-17 after three quarters.

  "I've learned over the years that if you play good basketball teams at the beginning of the year, you may not start out with a great record, but you have a better chance of finishing well at the end of the year," said Thomann.

  Salem's pre-conference schedule doesn't let up as road games at perennially tough Brighton and Ann Arbor Huron await the Rocks next week.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.