Strong Fourth Quarter Propels Hornets Past Indians

Britten Clark scored six of her 12 points to lead the suddenly surging Saline Hornets (3-6) over the Tecumseh Indians, 53-47, at Saline High School Tuesday night.

The Indians (1-9) were up by a single point after each of the first three quarters, but the Hornets’ press, led by guards Emily Reyst, Alison Rentschler and Maura McCann, finally wore them down, as half of Saline’s 16 fourth quarter points were a result of turnovers and steals.

Saline has won three straight games, all in the Southeastern Conference, to improve to 3-2 in the SEC.

Clark, a 5’11 junior, was a force in the second half. She scored six points in the third quarter and six more in the fourth. Her performance was crucial because senior Emily Everett, the team’s leading scorer, found herself in foul trouble in the first half.

“We talked at halftime and realized we needed to be more aggressive,” said Clark, who made several strong moves to the net and also showed touch from long range. “I think we kind of got in their heads by the end of the game.”

Saline wins a slugfest

Saline Coach Jason Pickett said it was a hard-fought win.

“It was a bit of a slugfest,” said Pickett, noting that Saline was whistled for 26 fouls and Tecumseh for 22. “But it didn’t need to be this close. I thought we struggled early on. We didn’t play our best in the first half. I’m glad we were able to learn our lesson and still get the win instead of learning it in a loss.”

Everett also scored 12 points for Saline. Sophomore Caitlin Ellis had eight points was particularly effective driving to the net in the second quarter, when she had six points.

Less than 2:30 into the game, Saline was down 3-0 after Tecumseh’s Shannon Peake hit two free throws after the Hornets were called for their fifth foul.

Saline senior Jessica Brown responded with a couple free throw baskets and the struggle began. After a basket by Peake, Everett scored on a layup. Tecumseh took a 9-4 lead on baskets by Hannah Galloway, who scored 12, and Megan Marko.

McCann entered the game and gave the Saline press a shot in the arm. A Tecumseh turnover led to a layup by junior Katie Crysler. Seconds later, Everett came up with a steal and passed to McCann, who missed her shot. But Crysler grabbed the rebound and put it back to cut the lead to one. With 1:59 to play in the quarter, Everett sank two free throws to give Saline its first lead of the game. The Indians finished the quarter with an 11-10 lead after a basket by Kayla Kormos.

Saline regained the lead to start the second quarter when, after McCann stole the ball, junior center Jill Borowski put back a rebound for two points. Tecumseh jumped back in front with two free throws by Haven Schaffer and a layup by Janessa Steuwe.

Ellis rebounded a shot from McCann and laid it up for two points for the Hornets.

Tecumseh built a five-point lead after a basket by Allie Bateman and two free throw baskets by Steuwe.

Borowski answered with a tough move to the net over her Indians’ defender. Less than halfway through the second quarter, Saline was called for its 10^th foul. Melissa Felkey made a free throw for a 20-16 lead.

Ellis started a seven-point Saline run with an eight-foot jump shot. After a steal by Rentscheler, Ellis grabbed the rebound of an Everett shot and put it home to tie the game at 20.

Borowski sank two free throws and then Crysler sank a free throw to give Saline a 23-20 lead, its largest margin of the game. The Indians, however, closed out the half with baskets by Jenny Short and Galloway to take a 24-23 lead into the dressing room.

Galloway opened the scoring in the third quarter, putting home a rebound. But after a steal at midcourt, Everett scored on a layup. On the next play, Reyst stole another ball at midcourt and passed to Everett for another layup for a one-point Saline lead. The lead bounced back in Tecumseh’s favor after a basket from Marko.

That’s when Clark got into the action. With 5:30 to play, she sank a jump shot from the corner. After two free throw baskets for the Indians, Junior Amanda Price scored on a layup after sweet baseline pass from Crysler.

Clark followed with a jumper from the corner and, 40 seconds later, sank an eight-footer for a 35-30 lead with three minutes to play in the third quarter.

But Tecumseh went on a seven-point run. Marko made a foul shot to complete a three-point play after a layup. Then Peake put back a rebound to tie the game at 35. Peake then sank two free throws.

A McCann steal set up a layup for Rentschler to tie the score at 37. Tecumseh, however, took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter after a free throw basket by Felkey.

Steals fuel strong fourth quarter

Saline got the start it wanted in the fourth. Rentschler stole a ball at center and fed Borowksi, who was fouled before she could get the shot off. She missed her free throw, but Ellis plucked the rebound and put it home for a 39-38 lead. With 5:39 to play, Galloway gave Tecumseh its last lead of the ballgame with a layup.

Coach Pickett changed all five Hornets, who came off the bench and dominated. Clark made a strong move to the hoop for two points and a 41-40 lead. Reyst followed seconds later with a three-pointer. Seconds later, Clark blocked a pass at center court. She was fouled and made one of two shots for a 45-40 lead. After another Saline steal, Clark went to the hoop and was fouled. Once again, she made one of two shots.

The Indians continued to battle. Kormos made two free throws. But Clark answered with a power move and pull-up jump shot to make it 48-41 with just over two minutes to play. The Indians got a basket and then two free throws from Steuwe to reduce Saline’s lead to three points with 1:37 to play.

Reyst made a free throw and then Everett sank two from the charity stripe to give Saline a six-point lead. Tecumseh got to within four points after Galloway put back a rebound. But the Hornets closed the game out with Borowski and Reyst each sinking one of two free throws.

Saline visits Monroe Friday night.