BY GREG MENGELT
Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com
CORYDON — In a game that epitomized Silver Creek’s season, an outstanding first half was spoiled by a dismal second half as the Dragons fell to Salem, 66-51, in the first round of the Class 3A Sectional 30 on Tuesday. Silver Creek (9-12) — which started the season 7-2, but won just two of its final 12 games — led the Lions 33-23 at the half and 49-41 with 5:33 to play in the contest. However, the Dragons turned the ball over in eight of their last 10 possessions and were outscored 25-2 in the final five-plus minutes. “Their press really got to us,” Silver Creek coach John Bradley admitted. “We turned the ball over, and they made a nice little run. If we don’t get ball to our end, we can’t score. Once the bleeding started, we needed a tourniquet.” “We rattled them and got some turnovers,” Lions’ coach Hank Weedin said. “It was a snowball effect. They got a little panicky, and that played into our hands. We’re a little better team when we get layups, like everybody else, I guess.” Salem senior Robert Baker — a four-year starter who has become the Lions’ “Mr. Everything — had seven points and four steals in the fourth quarter. He finished the contest with 19 points, seven rebounds and six steals. “He hit some great shots, and he had a hand in his face on a lot of them,” Bradley said of the Lion point guard. “Robert played well,” Weedin said. “He’s 5-(foot)-9, and he’s led us in rebounding the last two games. That’s just determination and grit.” Silver Creek jumped out to an 8-0 lead as sophomore Grant Meyer scored the Dragons’ first five points, and senior Cody Jackson added a 3-pointer. Salem, which didn’t scored in the game’s first 3:51, closed to within 12-9, but buckets by Anthony Everage and Michael Bradley gave the Dragons a 16-11 lead after one quarter. “I thought we played a great first half,” John Bradley said. “Silver Creek came out with a purpose,” Weedin added. The Dragons increased their lead to as much as 31-19 in the second quarter. Jackson led the second-quarter surge with 11 points in the period. He hit five of his first six shots in the stanza. “He was red-hot tonight,” Bradley said Jackson, who was one of six Silver Creek seniors who played their last game on Tuesday. “I thought Cody played well the whole game, not just the first half.” Weedin said limiting Jackson’s touches was the theme of his halftime speech. Despite slowing him down in the second half, Jackson managed to finish with 19 points and nine boards. “He’s a solid basketball player,” Weedin said. “He’s tough to defend. He was hot in the first half, and I got into our guys about that at halftime.” Salem went on 5-2 and 9-5 runs early in the third quarter. After the Dragons pushed the lead back to 41-35 with under a minute to play in the period, the Lions scored the final six points of the quarter, including a fast-break layup at the buzzer by Ian Bowling that tied the score at 41-41 entering the final period. Creek seemed to take control of the game with an 8-0 run, which culminated in a Bradley 3-pointer, to start the fourth, but that’s when the Lions countered with 12 straight and 25 of the game’s final 27 points. “This group of kids has had a lot of character,” John Bradley said. “They were never going to lie down. They gave 100 percent every day.” Michael Bradley scored 11 points. Jack Eckert had sx points and Everage added five. Both had a team-high three assists. Bradley, Eckert and Everage all played their final game as Dragons. Salem, which improved to 10-10 with six wins in its last seven games, will face 14-6 Crawford County in one semifinal on Friday. SALEM 11 12 18 25—66 SILVER CREEK 16 17 8 10—51 Salem (10-10) — Baker 19, Steggerman 3, I. Bowling 11, Huffaker 8, Z. Bowling 12, Busick 3, Holstine 8. Silver Creek (9-12) — Meyer 7, Eckert 6, Bradley 11, Everage 5, Jackson 19, Brooks 3. 3-point field goals — Salem 1 (Baker); Silver Creek 5 (Bradley 3, Jackson 2). Rebounds — Salem 23 (Baker 7); Silver Creek 22 (Jackson 9). Turnovers — Salem 8, Silver Creek 18.
