Rocks' fast start buried by sluggish shooting in 29-26 loss to South Lyon

Feb. 24, 2010, 1:15 a.m.

  Early indicators were promising for Salem's girls basketball team Tuesday night.

  The Rocks bolted to a 12-2 lead after one quarter in their game against KLAA Central Division foe South Lyon.

  But Salem's chances of winning deteriorated along with their shooting touch in a 29-26 setback to the Lions.

  Following their encouraging first quarter, the Rocks' point totals for the final three quarters were 3, 6 and 5.

  "We were taking good shots; they just weren't falling," said Salem coach Fred Thomann, whose squad fell to 12-7 heading into Wednesday's season finale at Brighton or Waterford Mott. "We were moving the ball well and we made a few shots. We just couldn't keep it going for whatever reason."

  Salem led 15-12 at the half and 21-20 with eight minutes to play, but it was doomed by a five-point fourth quarter.

  All three of Salem's second-quarter points came from the free throw line.

  Senior sensation Sara Stone excelled, netting 11 points and 12 rebounds. Six of Stone's points came in the first quarter.

  "They were doubling Sara and Brett de Bear," Thomann noted. "We got Sara some looks, but we didn't get Brett anything."

  Rachel Norman added seven points for Salem. Heidi Schmidt added three (a buzzer-beating triple to end the first quarter) and Katelynn Krause tossed in three.

  For the night, Salem was six of 11 from the charity stripe. The Lions knocked down six of their 10 attempts from the line.

  Thomann didn't use the fact that the Rocks hadn't practiced since Saturday due to Monday's snow day as an excuse for his team's shooting woes.

  "There were a lot of other teams in the same situation tonight that scored in the 40s and 50s," he said.