BOYS BASKETBALL Childers leads Chaney past Salem, 67-44

The 6-5 junior forward finished with a game-high 22 points.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Junior Chris Childers got the Chaney High basketball team off to a strong start against Salem when he hit the first of his five 3-pointers in the opening minute.
Moments later, Childers hit his second three and the Cowboys were off and running en route to an impressive 67-44 home win over the Quakers.
The 6-5 forward finished with a game-high 22 points.
Chaney coach Jim Stickel and Salem mentor George Spack agreed those early shots by Childers were the key to Chaney's win.
"We came out and figured that we'd try to get Chris off early and he drained the first shot and then came right back and drilled the second shot," Stickel said. "I think that gave us the momentum right out of the box."
Spack said, "[Childers] was a force from the outside all night. He hit all five of his shots in the first half including four 3's and we really never recovered."
Childers was the sixth man on last year's regional semifinal team and said he was hoping to get off to a fast start this year.
"Hitting those two shots was an adrenaline rush," Childers said. "I felt good after that so I kept shooting."
Childers missed just three of 10 shots from the field.
Piece of the puzzle: But Childers was just part of the success for the Cowboys who really won the game on the front lines.
Chaney pounded the boards to outrebound the smaller Quakers team, 49-20.
Senior Roy Austin was Chaney's strongest force inside as he grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 20 points.
"I was worried about that part of our game," Stickel said. "In our scrimmages, we haven't rebounded well so we worked on boxing out and crashing the boards all week and it paid off.
Childers chipped in with nine rebounds, while Jason Bowlen and Matt Lobaugh had seven boards apiece.
Behind Childers scoring, Chaney jumped out to a 21-13 first quarter lead and continued to play well in the first half. The Cowboys led 38-26 at halftime.
Salem tried to make a run in the third quarter and Chaney got sloppy with the basketball, but the Cowboys used their athletic ability to slowly pull away from the Quakers.
Travis Mong led Salem in scoring with 18 points while Dave Young netted 12.