Hot-shooting Harvey takes Quakers out of tournament

Salem lost 63-58 in the Division II regional semifinal to finish with a 20-4 record.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANTON -- Salem High's boys basketball team ran into a hot shooting team from Painesville Harvey Thursday night and the Quakers just couldn't pull out a win.
With Harvey hitting 8-of-13 3-point shots in the first half, the Quakers fell behind and never regained the lead, dropping a 63-58 decision in the Division II regional semifinal game at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
The Quakers bowed out of tournament play with a 20-4 record, while the Red Raiders (19-5) advanced to the regional championship game Saturday where they will meet unbeaten Wooster Triway (24-0) at 3 p.m.
"We knew they were a great shooting team and we defended well," said Salem coach Jeff Brink. "Give them a lot of credit because we had a hand in their face all night long, but they still made them."
Even with the Raiders hitting eight first half 3-pointers the Quakers hung right in there and trailed only 29-23 at halftime.
"We had to decide whether to take away their inside game or their outside and we chose the inside, but even then we really never gave them uncontested shots from the perimeter," Brink added.
"Our kids played their hearts out tonight, but so did Harvey, but we just couldn't make the shots when we needed them down the stretch.
Salem made a late run
The Quakers trailed by as much as 14 points, 50-36, early in the final quarter. They also missed their first seven shots from the field to start the quarter.
"That dry spell hurt us, but still we came back and then when we started fouling and they were missing them, we still couldn't take advantage and cut the lead," Brink said.
Sparked by senior Tom Jesko, the Quakers pulled to within six points midway through the final quarter, 52-46, and they started fouling with just under three minutes remaining trailing by seven points.
Harvey was just 8-of-20 at the foul line in the final quarter and 11-of-32 on the night. At one time the Raiders missed seven consecutive foul shots, but still Salem could get no closer than six points, 60-54, with 48 seconds remaining.
Jesko, who scored 21 points to lead the Quakers, had 11 in the fourth quarter, while Ryan Benchwick added 15 and Jarin Heath had 11 before fouling out with just over two minutes remaining.
"We planned on fouling late if we needed to, but we almost got ourselves into foul trouble at the end," Brink said. "Losing Jarin hurt, especially on defense."
Red Raiders' leader
Harvey was led by Julian Mangano, who scored 21 points and was 6-of-10 from 3-point range.
DeVonne Johnson added 18 points with three 3-pointers as Harvey finished with 10 on the night, while the Quakers countered with seven.
Mangano hit his first four shots, all treys, and Johnson added a fifth as Harvey's first 15 points all came from behind the arc, yet the Raiders led only 17-16 after one quarter.
Salem took its only lead of the game early in the second quarter after Benchwick tied the game at 17-17 with a free throw and Adam Hickey canned a 3-pointer for a 20-17 lead.
That lasted exactly 30 seconds before David Alston came back with a 3-pointer and Mangano added his fifth of the game as Harvey went on a 9-0 run and pulled to a 29-23 lead at halftime.
Salem managed to stay within reach of the Raiders through the third quarter getting to within five points, but never trailing by more than nine.
The slow start in the final quarter put the Quakers in a hole that they were really never able to get out of, although they had their opportunities, but couldn't take advantage of them.
mollica@vindy.com