Salem's long wait ends

The Quakers went 30 years without a district title until Friday night.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- It wasn't a dramatic coronation, but it was a coronation all the same. And when you've waited 30 years for magic to happen, you don't quibble with the details.
Which is why, as the Salem High boys basketball team gathered to cut down the nets following the school's first district title since 1976, there wasn't a lot of emotion. Just a sense of accomplishment.
"This was beyond my wildest dreams when I was a freshman," said Salem senior Tyler Pierce following his team's 57-32 win over Niles in Saturday's Division II district final at Boardman High School. "We've put so much into this. We deserve this, I think."
The Quakers advanced to the regional tournament at the Canton Civic Center and will play Painesville Harvey Thursday in a semifinal at 8 p.m.
What seemed unthinkable three years ago seemed probable entering Saturday's game. The top-seeded Quakers already had beaten Niles by double-digit scores twice this season and, with better size and athleticism, presented all sorts of matchup problems.
"We knew we needed to do something special," said Niles coach Ron Price. "We needed them to miss, which they didn't seem to do, and we needed to make a lot.
"But we tried. We really battled. We weren't just happy to be here."
Strategy goes as planned
Salem coach Jeff Brink wanted to take an early lead and force Niles to play catch-up. Everything went as planned.
"We knew we needed to force the tempo," said Brink, who won a district title with Springfield in 2003. "One we got the lead, they had to chase us.
"We really match up well with them because our big guys are so athletic, they can go out and challenge the 3-point shots."
That's exactly what happened in the first quarter, as Salem took a 15-6 lead and forced the Red Dragons into a 2-for-10 start from the field -- all on 3-point shots.
After falling behind 18-8 in the opening minute of the second quarter, the Red Dragons never again got within single digits.
"Give Salem and Coach Brink all the credit in the world," said Price. "I think the world of [Salem's] kids. They paid their dues as freshmen and got beat up. They deserved this.
"I hope they make a run at state."
Salem, which last played in a district final in 1990, has not been to the state tournament since finishing runner-up in 1959.
Heath leads Salem
Senior Jarin Heath had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Quakers (20-3), who won 20 games in a season for the first time since 1962.
"It was quite a drought," said Brink. "It's nice to have some rain in there."
Senior Tom Jesko added 13 points, Pierce had 11 points and 10 rebounds and senior Ryan Benchwick had eight points and six rebounds for Salem, which held a 38-16 edge on the boards.
"We knew before the season we had something good," said Benchwick, who was one of five returning starters. "We put a lot of work into this. A lot of days in the weight room, on the track, in summer league. That's what we talked about in the locker room [before the game]."
Andrew Cleary paces Niles
Senior guard Andrew Clearly had 15 points -- including 12 of Niles' 14 first-half points -- to lead the Red Dragons (14-9), who were making their first district final appearance since losing to Poland in 2002.
"For us to get here, it was a nice little run," said Price, whose team was the tournament's fourth seed. "We're disappointed and I'm disappointed. I love these seniors to death.
"It's tough to say good bye."
scalzo@vindy.com