Hornets Come From Behind To Defeat Skyline

Sophomore Reece Dils scored 20 points, and each member of the starting five came up big as the Hornets came back from a 30-19 halftime deficit to defeat Ann Arbor Skyline 57-54 Friday night.

The Skyline press caused all kinds of trouble for the Hornets (6-5 in the Southeastern Conference, 7-9 overall) in the first half. After the Hornets and Skyline started to a 6-6 start in the opening 2:30, Skyline (7-5 in the SEC, 8-8 overall) went on a 22-6 run that was fueled by several Saline turnovers.

The Hornets who came out in the second half bore little resemblance to the team that played in the first half.

Saline went on an 11-2 run in the first 3:30 of the third quarter and then overtook Skyline in the fourth and hung on for the win.

Coach Jay Plitzuweit said the Skyline press caused problems for the Hornets in the first half.

“We played passive, and we played scared. Give them credit, because they really come after you. In the second half, you saw us taking care of the basketball. You can’t rebound, and you can’t score a turnover,” Plitzuweit said. “We were able to start getting some shots, and when you get shots, you have the ability to score.”

The Hornets opened the game when junior Michael Smutny put back an offensive board for a 2-0 lead. Skyline’s Sakthi Sambandan replied with a 3-pointer. On the next trip up the floor, Smutny hit a 15-foot jump shot, but once again, Skyline’s Sambandan answered with a 3-pointer. Saline senior David Hendrickson tied the game with a layup, but Skyline replied with another 3-pointer, this time from Jack Clark. After a basket by Skyline’s Jason Lawton, Dils drained a 3-pointer to make it 11-9. Skyline closed the quarter with 5 points for a 16-9 edge.

Skyline struck first for 2 points to open the second quarter. Dils hit another 3-pointer, and the Hornets were down 18-12. Skyline took over the basketball game for the next four minutes. During the Eagles' 12-point run, Jarrius Mann had a highlight reel hook shot and then drew the fans from the seats when he put back a rebound with a one-handed dunk.

Down 28-12, the Hornets regained their footing. Junior Garrett Stark made one of two free throws, and then Smutny had a two-handed jam. Following a basket by Skyline’s Theron Wilson, Saline junior Derek Owings converted a layup, and right before the buzzer, Hendrickson scored a layup to cut the lead to 30-19.

Saline opened the third quarter with Smutny sinking one of two free throws. Seconds later, Hendrickson came up with a steal and went in all alone for a layup. Saline cut the lead to 6 when Dils set up Owings for a layup. Jordan Woods scored for Skyline, but the Hornets were unfazed. Dils made his third 3-pointer of the game, and then Hendrickson scored from beyond the arc to make it 32-30 at the 4:05 mark of the third.

The game was on.

Wilson scored for Skyline, and Dils replied for Saline. Mann scored for Skyline, and Hendrickson answered for the Hornets. With about two minutes to play in the quarter, the Hornets came up with a defensive rebound, and Stark went coast-to-coast, finishing up with a layup that tied the game at 36. Skyline regained the edge with a 3-pointer by Sambandan. Smutny replied with a layup for the Hornets. Skyline finished the third quarter with a steal and dunk by Woods for a 41-38 lead.

The fourth opened with Skyline getting a point on a free throw. Dils erased most of the 4-point lead with another 3-pointer. Skyline wouldn’t fade. Wilson’s layup gave Skyline a 44-41 lead.

On Saline’s next possession, an Eagle knocked the ball free from Hendrickson. Hendrickson dived to the ground and won the battle for the loose ball. Somehow, with two Eagles struggling to get the ball from him, Hendrickson, from the floor, found Dils in the corner with a pass. Dils, with a defender in his face, made his fifth 3-pointer of the game to tie the score at 44.

Hendrickson said he felt that he needed to get the ball back, since he lost it.

“It was my fault, so I wanted to get it back. I saw Reese and gave it to him because he was hot in the second half,” Hendrickson said.

Dils said he knew Hendrickson was going to win the battle, so he wanted to get into shooting position.

“You could tell by the way he dove for the ball that he was going to come up with it. So I just tried to get open and I waited for it,” Dils said.

Plitzuweit said Hendrickson’s intensity set the tone for the team in the second half.

“Our effort and intensity picked up in the second half. It starts with David Hendrickson. When he’s scrapping, kids will follow him,” Plitzuweit said.

The Hornets took their first lead of the half midway through the quarter when Smutny made one of two free throws. But Skyline got it right back with a basket by Wilson. Skyline extended its lead to 3 with another basket by Wilson.

But Stark came up with a big 3-point play, taking a foul while he made his layup, then sinking his free throw to tie the score at 48 with 3:11 to play.

Possession changed hands a couple of times with a couple of charging fouls. With 2:10 to play, Stark set up Dils for his sixth 3-pointer of the game and a 51-48 lead.  Skyline’s Woods cut into the lead with a putback.

With 1:21 to play, Derek Owings came up with a huge offensive rebound, was fouled and made one of his throws for a 52-50 lead. Wilson tied the game at 52 with another bucket.

The Hornets got the lead for good when Stark drained a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to make it 55-52 with 37.4 seconds left.

“I usually don’t take the big shots, so for me to do it, I know my teammates were proud of me,” Stark said. “I got a great kick out (to me) from Derek (Owings). I had felt good shooting in practice all yesterday, so I let it fly, and it paid off,” Stark said.

Wilson made it a 1-point game with another basket for Skyline. With 14.9 seconds left, Stark was fouled and made both free throws to make it 57-54. Two late 3-point attempts by the Eagles hit the rim.

Stark and Hendrickson each finished with 11 points. Smutny added 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Wilson had 18 points, and Woods scored 13 pints for Skyline.