Cougars buried by 'Rock' slide

Jan. 8, 2010, 10:55 p.m.

  De bear and defense proved to be a potent combination for Salem's girls basketball team Friday night.

  Sparked by de Bear's season-high 18-point effort and a solid team-defensive performance lifted the Rocks to a 71-37 victory over South Lyon East.

  The victory improved Salem to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Central Division.

  "They came out playing a full-court, in-your-face defense, but we did a nice job of moving the basketball and getting good shots," said Salem coach Fred Thomann. "We played an overall good game."

  The Rocks were red-hot literally the minute they stepped off the bus, exploding for 26 first-quarter points. Salem led 39-26 at the break and put the game on ice with a 21-2 spurt in the third quarter.

  Sara Stone led all scorers with 22 points. The senior captain also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Tabitha Mann was solid for the Rocks as well, netting 12 points and six boards.

  Other key contributors to the winners' cause were Rachel Norman (nine points) and Breanne Beaver, who scored six.

  de Bear did a nice job distributing the rock, too, notching six assists. Stone registered four assists.

  Salem travels to Novi on Tuesday for a key Central Division showdown.