Huge third quarter catapults
Salem over South Lyon East

Jan. 8, 2010, 11:15 p.m.

  Once the second half kicked in, the pace of Friday night's boys basketball game between Salem and South Lyon East switched from driving in a residential neighborhood to speeding on the Autobahn.

  The speedier tempo favored the Rocks, to say the least.

  Salem tore open a super-tight game by revving its engine in a 23-point third quarter that led to a 52-32 victory over the Cougars.

  The Rocks improved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's Central Division. The Cougars slipped to 1-5 and 0-1, respectively.

  "The entire first half we played to their pace, which is very slow," said Salem coach Bob Brodie. "They run a pattern offense and they drop back in a zone on defense.

  "In the second half, we changed up our defense and started pressing to speed up the pace of the game."

  Salem, which plays with just one senior, was led by sophomore forward Tyler Stewart, who registered 14 points. Senior Jake Peterson added 10 points for the Rocks, who had 10 players score.

  Junior guard Josh Perrin scored just three points, but he yanked down a team-high six rebounds.

  Salem was near perfect from the free throw line, canning 10 of 11 attempts.

  "That's the second game in a row we've shot well from the line, so that's a good sign," Brodie noted.

  Salem led 10-8 after one quarter and 16-14 at the half. The Rocks outscored their hosts 23-10 in the third stanza before closing with a 13-8 run.

  "Our schedule turns into a buzzsaw starting Tuesday," Brodie said, referring to a home game against Novi before three straight road games against Livonia Stevenson, South Lyon and Northville. "We'll find out what we're made of."