Kevin Weisz launches a jump shot over the outstretched hand of Salem's Chris Dierker.

Solid fourth quarter propels
Rocks past arch-rival Chiefs

BY ED WRIGHT
Jan. 26, 2010, 10:15 p.m.

  Final-exam week collided with Salem-Canton basketball rivalry week Tuesday night in Canton's Phase III gymnasium.

  So after enduring an exhausting day with No. 2 pencils, the Chiefs' basketball team aced its second-half test against the Rocks thanks largely to its No. 2 contingent of reserve players.

  After falling behind the visiting Rocks, 32-31, on sophomore Tyler Stewart's long jump shot with seven minutes to play, the Chiefs reeled off a game-ending 13-5 run to cement a 45-37 victory.

  Canton is now 7-4 while the Rocks slipped to 6-5.

  Only once were the evenly matched teams separated by more than four points over the first three quarters in a well-played, moderately paced showdown in which the Chiefs committed just four turnovers.

  Following Stewart's long "J", Kai Walther -- one of Canton's key reserves -- nailed two free throws to put the hosts up, 33-32.

  Thirty-four seconds later, Canton's Kevin Weisz deposited an offensive rebound and less than a minute after that, Hayatt Ali -- yet another reserve who turned in a stellar performance -- swished a  jumper to extend the Chiefs' bulge to 37-32.

  Unfazed, Stewart drained a long triple for Salem with 4:45 to play to bring the Rocks to within 37-35, but Canton strung together a 6-0 run thanks to four points from the unheralded Walther and two on a Dietrich Lever putback to all but ice the win.

  "I do whatever I can for the team," Ali said, when asked about his bench role. "Coming off the bench actually helps me see the situation of the game better. My main things are to bring defense and energy when I come into the game."

  The Chiefs starters didn't play too shabby either, especially Lever, who racked up 19 points, two rebounds, four assists and a trio of steals.

  Weisz also contributed some power numbers, posting 11 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds.

  "Due in part to finals week -- a lot of our student-athletes had two finals today -- I thought our team's energy was low, especially in the first half," said Canton coach Jimmy Reddy. "The guys who came off the bench -- especially Kai Walther, Hayatt Ali and Kyle Adams -- gave us a lot of energy down the stretch.

  "Our top eight guys are all pretty similar," Reddy continued. "Whoever we put in we feel will give us a great chance to either extend the lead or get us back in the game if we're behind. We expect a lot from them and they came up big for us tonight."

  Stewart, a cool-as-a-cucumber sophomore, led the Rocks with 13 points, nine the result of a trio of triples. Senior Jake Peterson also was more than dependable, netting 10 points and six rebounds.

  Ethan Walsh was the Rocks' Mr. Windex again, cleaning the glass with eight rebounds to complement his four points.

  Devonta Riley added six points, three boards and a steal for the Rocks.

  "Overall, I thought the kids played pretty well," said Salem coach Bob Brodie. "We had a couple breakdowns in the second half where we gave a couple baskets away. They had a couple of players (Walther and Ali) who we didn't expect to score like that.

  "They're a good team. They put a lot of pressure on you the entire game. We handled it for the most part for three-and-a-half quarters, but then we broke down a little. Once they got up late on us like they did, we were in trouble because we're not a real-quick scoring machine on offense."

  Canton led 21-20 at the half despite being outrebounded 22-10 by the Rocks. The primary reason the Chiefs led at the break was because they committed just one turnover in the first 16 minutes.

  Lever led all scorers with nine first-half points.

  Canton hit 16 of 43 field goals (37.2 percent) and 6 of 11 free throws (54.5). Salem shot 38.4 percent from the field (15 for 39) and was just under 50 percent from the stripe (4 for 9).

  The game served as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Half of concession sales will go to the ACS. There were also strategically placed buckets throughout Phase III into which people could place donations.