Young Quakers click

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- With two juniors and three sophomores starting, there won't be too many lineups younger than what Salem High girls basketball coach Steve Stewart sends onto the court.
On Monday, the Quakers jumped out to a 16-point lead against Austintown Fitch, then had to work hard to hold off the Falcons, 61-54.
"We're young, but we're talented, and that talent needs to play against good competition," said Stewart, who said the Quakers (3-1) have already played three Division I opponents. Their loss came in a tournament in Marietta against Northern Durham (N.C.)
"This type of game is critical for us because of our youth," Stewart said. "The only way you can learn is to experience this type of thing. Fitch just clawed and fought the entire game, even when we got off to a good start."
Markovitch leads: Junior Abby Markovitch, who scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Quakers, said, "It was a relief when the final buzzer [sounded].
"Even though we're a young team, we're strong and work well together," Markovitch said.
Sophomore Allison Cotter scored 13 points, including seven in the first eight minutes.
Markovitch netted 12 points in the second quarter on four baskets and four free throws as Salem built up a 36-20 advantage.
"They can be streaky, but when they are on, they can be very good," Stewart said of Markovitch and Cotter.
Largest lead: Cotter's steal and layup put the Quakers ahead 40-25 for their largest lead of the second half. Then the Falcons began to rally. A basket by Kim Buhro and two by Katie McDermott cut the margin to nine.
"If we had played anywhere near [as well] in the first half as we did in the second half, this game would have been a different story," Fitch coach Mary Ann McGahagan said.
"Our intensity level and focus weren't where we needed to be," McGahagan said. "We broke down too many times defensively and that led to several easy looks for them. And they had too many second and third shots."
Foul trouble: The Falcons' rally was aided by Salem's foul trouble. Lauren Teal was called for her fourth personal late in the third quarter and she fouled out early in the fourth. Another sophomore, point guard Lizzie Jesko, was called twice in a span of 14 seconds to foul out with 2:26 to play.
McDermott and Buhro hit baskets to cut the Salem lead to 58-52 with 1:45 to go. Dawn Simpson followed with two free throws with a minute remaining to reduce the deficit to four points.
But Fitch would come no closer as Markovitch iced the game with two free throws and senior Hannah Colian made one.
"We had opportunities in the final three minutes," McGahagan said, "but we missed a wide-open layup and they then scored -- that's a four-point swing right there."
Good defense: Stewart said, "In the second half, Fitch took away our game. We weren't getting the open looks we were earlier.
"Hannah played an outstanding game off the bench, making a couple of key baskets and good baskets," Stewart said.
Colian finished with nine points and junior Tiffanie Heestand had 11.
Buhro and McDermott led Fitch with 19 and 14 points, respectively. Simpson finished with 10.