GIRLS BASKETBALL Salem topples Mooney, 35-30

The Cardinals went the final 10 minutes without a field goal.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Going scoreless over the first three minutes of the game didn't really hurt the Cardinal Mooney High girls basketball team on Wednesday.
Going without a field goal over the final 10:32 did.
"We just needed one more basket and one more stop," said Mooney coach Jack Bermann after a 35-30 loss to Salem at Mooney High School. "But that's been the story all year."
Salem took an early 11-0 lead behind five points from Kelly Roelen and six from Natalie Davidson a half dozen. The Quakers were 5 of 7 from the field early on while the Cardinals committed turnovers on nine of their first 10 possessions.
Leading 13-4 with 3:02 remaining, Salem coach Steve Stewart sent in five substitutes. But it wasn't because he anticipated a rout.
"We make that change no matter what," said Stewart. "It's not unusual for us."
Mooney's rally
Trailing 15-4 at the end of the first quarter and 20-13 midway though the second quarter, Mooney began its charge, finishing the half on a 10-1 run as Salem went the last 5:10 without a field goal.
Mooney got scores from four players during the run, including a 3-point shot from Morgan Ucchino and back-to-back field goals from Laura Guyer. Guyer's second basket beat the buzzer as the Cards took a 23-21 halftime lead.
A nice move by Dayna Daltorio stretched Mooney's lead to four (25-21) to open the second half. Following some good patience on offense, the Cards went up six when Guyer's field goal at 2:33 of the third put the hosts in command 29-23.
Cardinals turn cold
That was Mooney's last field goal of the game.
Trailing 29-25 after three quarters and 30-25 with 7:14 left in the fourth, Salem finished the game with a 10-0 run.
It was almost a carbon copy of the Quakers' finish against Rayen earlier in the season. Salem made just two baskets in the fourth but it was enough as Mooney went 0 for 7 from the field and had three turnovers.
"Tonight, it was the first and fourth quarters that we got shell-shocked." said Bermann. "Down 11-0 early, I thought, 'Stop the bleeding.' It was a standing eight count.
"I think Salem thought it was going to be easy. But I know their coaches didn't feel that way."
Added Stewart, "We played poorly in the middle two quarters, both on offense and defense. But give Mooney credit. They battled back."
Davidson, who led all scorers with 11, said, "They were starting to read us when we passed the ball. And some of our turnovers weren't the smartest thing. Then we started to play.
"I knew we were going to win the game. When we tell each other that, we get it done."
Roelen added 11 points for Salem (5-1), while Alex Woytek led Mooney with seven points.