PREP BASKETBALL Salem shuts down Liberty and cruises to victory, 66-32

Cardinal Mooney played well down the stretch against Benedictine.
SALEM -- The Salem High basketball team limited Liberty to 11 points in the first half as it cruised to a 66-32 victory Saturday in the Quakers' gym.
Ahead 24-11, the Quakers (6-1) put the game away with a 21-10 surge in the third quarter.
Tom Jesko sparked Salem with 27 points. Ryan Dankovich chipped in with 10. Tyler Pierce pulled down nine rebounds. Jarin Heath had five assists.
Edward Kershaw and Mychal Doblanski led the Leopards with six points apiece and they each grabbed four rebounds.
Cardinal Mooney 72,Cleveland Benedictine 67
YOUNGSTOWN -- Clutch play down the stretch by L.J. Sutton, Dan McCarthy and Jaron Howell enabled Cardinal Mooney to pull away.
With the score tied at 67, Sutton blocked a shot, McCarthy got the rebound and was fouled and made two free throws. Howell added two insurance foul shots to seal the Cardinals' triumph.
Howell finished with 25 points, including 19 in the third quarter when Mooney (4-3) came from behind to take the lead, 54-50.
Desmond Marrow added 12 points while Sutton and Tony Brunetti added nine apiece. Mike Zordich contributed seven points and six rebounds.
Rudy Evans had 16 points to lead a well-balanced attack by Benedictine (2-5), while Kyle McKee added 13, Don Kelly 11 and Martin White and Wesley Prince 10 apiece.
Girls
POLAND -- Salem took a 17-3 lead after one quarter and increased it to 34-9 at the half to beat Poland 50-21 in a Metro Athletic Conference game.
Kelly Roelen and Zahra Scullion had 13 points apiece for Salem (8-1), while Jessica Toth's six points led Poland (2-8, 0-3).
Struthers 34, Niles 33
STRUTHERS -- Ahead 34-30 with a minute, 32 seconds remaining, the Wildcats held off the Red Dragons (3-5, 0-1).
Steph Gabrelcik tossed in two free throws and Nina Gabrelcik one, but that was as close as the Red Dragons got.
Halle Minchin-Skook paced the Wildcats (6-4, 2-0) with 17 points. Steph Parish led the Red Dragons with nine points.
Southeast 43, Crestwood 23
RAVENNA -- Hannah Harnar scored all 16 of her points in the first three quarters to pace the Pirates.
Stephanie Lee added 15 points.
After being tied at 13 at the break, Southeast jumped in front 29-17 entering the final eight minutes.
Sharon 43, Meadville 41
SHARON -- Janine McDonald scored on a tip off a rebound at the buzzer to lift Sharon.
McDonald sparked the Tigers (12-2) with 13 points. Tara Dolci added 11 and Brittany Csatlos had five rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Meadville (11-3) had a 28-20 rebounding advantage.