Saline Loses First Game of Season at Canton, 42-36

CANTON — If you'd have asked new coach Matt Seidl if he'd be happy if his Hornets varsity basketball team got off to a 6-1 start, there's no question what the answer would have been.

But after starting 6-0, Seidl was disappointed that fell 42-36 to host Canton Tuesday night.

"If you asked me before the season, I'd have been very happy with a 6-1 start. But when you're 6-0, 7-0 looks better," said Seidl.

Garrett Stark led Saline with 11 points. Michael Smutny scored 10. Max Recknagel chipped in with six points.

Seidl said his team didn't play very well.

"I think this is one of the first games where we really got hammered on the offensive glass. We didn't shoot very well and we needed the offensive rebounds to keep things going," said Seidl. "They didn't have any more size than us, but they were a little quicker to get to the ball and a little hungrier."

Still, the Hornets were in until the final seconds.

"We just couldn't find our shot tonight," Seidl said.

Canton was led by Paul Baumgart's 15 points.

Canton led 15-11 after one quarter on the strength of eight points by Baumgart. Saline limited the Chiefs to just three points in the third and led 22-18 at halftime. Stark had seven points in the second quarter. After three quarters, the the teams were tied at 31.

But the Chiefs shut down the Hornets in the fourth, limiting Saline to just Joey Wooley's field goal and a couple free throw baskets.

The Hornets are off until Jan. 13, when they host Ann Arbor Huron and open the SEC schedule.

"Our schedule has been interesting in that we seem to be facing better teams as we go along. This Canton team is probably the best team we've faced so far. Things are going to get more challenging when conference play begins," Seidl said.