Poland handles Salem's strategy

The Bulldogs squelched the slow tactics to top the Quakers for the third time.
BOARDMAN -- After losing twice in the regular season to Poland, Salem basketball coach Jeff Brink wanted to give his team a chance to be in position to knock off the Bulldogs in a Division II district semifinal game at Boardman.
Brink had his team hold the basketball for the entire first quarter. The strategy worked early but Poland had too much Chad Fender down the stretch as the Bulldogs pulled away late with a 37-19 victory.
The win sets up a third matchup this season with Metro Athletic Conference rival Canfield on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the district championship on the line.
First quarter
Salem held the ball for the entire first quarter except for three turnovers which led only to a pair of free throws by Poland's Jim Shurilla with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.
Salem's Jarin Heath executed Salem's game plan to near perfection when he drilled a 3-point basket with 2 seconds left on the first quarter clock to give the Quakers a 3-2 lead.
It was the only shot from the field by both teams in the first eight minutes.
"We had an idea that Salem would try to play that way," said Poland coach Ken Grisdale on the Quakers' game-plan. "We thought they might slow it down and give themselves a chance to win the game."
Brink said the game nearly unfolded the way he envisioned.
Quakers missed last 12 shots
The Quakers trailed 25-18 with five minutes remaining but missed their last 12 shots of the contest.
"We wanted to put ourselves in a position to win the game late," Brink said. "We had the game close in the fourth quarter and had our chances but several shots wouldn't fall.
"If we make a few of those baskets it might be a whole different game," Brink said. "We wouldn't have had to foul and let them run away with the game.
"The game was a lot closer than the score indicated."
Poland's answer to Salem's slowdown tactics was Chad Fender.
The senior guard took over the game midway through the second quarter on both ends of the court.
"Chad Fender is the best player I've ever coached and the best player in the area," Grisdale said. "When you know there are going to be only so many possessions you want the ball in his hands as often as possible."
Fender scored nine points in the second quarter and led a smothering defense against Salem.
Fender's 23 points outscored Salem
The Youngstown State University recruit outscored the entire Salem team by pouring in 23 points. He made six straight free throws in the final period to put the game away.
"It's my senior year and, offensively, coach wants the ball in my hands," Fender said. "Fortunately the shots were falling and we were able to win the game."
Poland also got seven points from Shurilla and a solid defensive effort from all five starters.
Overall, Poland made 10 of 17 shots (59 percent) from the field and were 14 of 16 from the foul line.
After taking a 13-7 halftime lead, the Bulldogs extended the lead to 10 points, 24-14, late in the third quarter on Fender's 3-point basket.
Salem kept within striking distance behind the shooting of Heath and Jesko who had eight and six points, respectively.
Tyler Pierce scored two of his four points at 5:20 of the final quarter to pull Salem to within 25-18 but the Quakers could not get any closer.
Poland will be trying to win the season series and the district championship Saturday against a Canfield team that upset the Bulldogs late in the year by two points at Poland.