SALEM Jesko sparks Quakers' big win

Salem's 10-4 run late in the third quarter was too much for Wooster.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- When you haven't won a meaningful game in 21 months that includes a long rehab from a knee injury, the last thing you want is a weather postponement.
That's why no one was happier to see Wooster's bus in the Salem High parking lot Saturday than Quakers senior point guard Lizzie Jesko.
Jesko took advantage of the opportunity, playing what Salem coach Steve Stewart called her best quarter ever in helping lead the Quakers past the Generals (2-1), 57-48.
With Wooster ahead 29-28 late in the third quarter, Jesko nailed a 3-pointer to put the Quakers ahead for keeps.
Salem's 10-4 run to close that frame gave Salem a 39-34 lead and the Generals did not cut the gap to less than three points the rest of the way.
"Lizzie Jesko, by far, played the best quarter I've ever seen her play in the third quarter," Stewart said. "She got to the foul line, she ran down a loose ball, she bounced a couple off of them to go out and she hit that big three -- they were critical plays. And she ran our offense -- she really played outstanding.
"We beat a quality team," said Stewart, calling the Generals "probably the best team on our schedule."
On a roll
The Quakers improved to 2-1 after a loss at West Branch and a blowout win at Austintown Fitch.
"We wanted to get revenge on somebody and I'm happy that it was on a good team like Wooster," said Jesko who netted nine points. "With all the snow cancellations last night, they said our game might get canceled.
"Everyone wanted to play -- we didn't want to reschedule," Jesko said. "We love playing."
The Quakers also don't mind practicing free throws and it paid off in the fourth quarter when they scored 15 of their 18 points at the foul line.
Salem's second-half dominance came after two of Wooster's better players -- sophomore post Abby Kacsandi and senior point guard Whitney Taylor -- picked up their fourth fouls. Both eventually fouled out
Quakers' scoring leaders
Senior guard Renee Farina led the Quakers with 12 points while senior Alyson Cotter and junior Sarah Hamilton contributed 11 apiece.
Taylor led the Generals with 20 points while Jen Gabriele scored 13.
After jumping out to a 16-12 lead in the first quarter, the Quakers went cold, making just two of 10 shots in the second quarter. Still, they hung on to a 21-20 lead at the break.
"We had a great first quarter," Stewart said. "We had great shots in the second quarter -- they just didn't drop.
"But we still had the lead at halftime -- we did not let their defensive intensity stop us and that was a critical lesson," Stewart said. "We wanted to get into the two-shot foul into the final minutes and we did."
williams@vindy.com