By SPENCER BATES
SALAMANCA — After a “panicked” first half, the Salamanca boys basketball team made the adjustments and pulled off a second-half offensive surge that sent visiting Fredonia packing.
For the Warriors, it was just their second game of the season and its offense was shaky to start things off, missing everything on a handful of shot attempts, and leaving others rolling off the rim. But they were able to stay in the game only down by three at the half and, with a renewed sense of energy, put together an offensive onslaught in the second on its way to a big 60-37 win in their home opener.
Salamanca coach Adam Bennett credited the Hillbillies’ defense throughout the first half which made life hard for his team that is still learning how to play as a cohesive unit. But, frankly, the lapses he saw on the offensive end throughout an opening half in which they only mustered up 16 points, he expected. But he also knew they had the chance to take control of the game if they remained true to their identity as a team.
“Give credit to Fredonia, … I thought they came out with a ton of defensive intensity,” Bennett said. “They got us into some shots that we normally don’t take in the second quarter. We kind of panicked offensively. You know, we were trying to do things that we typically don’t practice. But you know what? That’s what happens in a league game, your second game of the year. … Sometimes when you’re struggling so much on that side of the floor, then it can really go against you defensively. And we kept defending. We knew that if we started playing offense the way that we were capable of, things would be fine, and I’m just really proud of their second half.”
As for the offensive production they managed to get in the first half, the Warriors have their depth to thank.
Salamanca’s Cory Holleran (24) turns around on the baseline and looks towards Jaxon Crouse (14) for a pass. (Salamanca Warrior Athletics)
Carlton Farmer, Dominick Hill and Jaxon Crouse were stars in their own right on the night and earned themselves valuable minutes with the amount of success they were having in light of the usual starters struggling early on. This has only bolstered the confidence that Bennett has in his team this early in the season.
“We got some depth, and we got guys who know how to play, and they’re not intimidated by the moment,” Bennett said. “All those guys off the bench, what I like is there’s not a drop-off in pace or effort or intensity. It’s early, so we got to make sure all of our guys know our stuff and understand where to go, and that’ll come in time. But, they were there to lift up our experienced guys.”
And after a first half like the one they had, that boost from the bench became all the more valuable as the starters did eventually find their stride and imposed their will on the game, nearly doubling the first-half offense in the third quarter alone, out-scoring Fredonia 25-5 in the frame.
According to Bennett, the key to unlocking the offense was to get downhill. His team had already shown that they were capable of stopping the Fredonia attack. All they needed to do was get in the half-court quicker and test the Hillbillies’ transition defense. Much to the Warriors’ delight, the visitors were unable to stop the train barreling down the tracks.
Salamanca’s Payton Bradley (3) rises up for a layup under the contest of two Fredonia defenders. (Salamanca Warrior Athletics)
“We needed to get downhill, I thought we were way too east-west in the first half,” Bennett said. “We weren’t utilizing the baseline, I didn’t love our cutting off the ball. We got back to that in the second half, the way that we play.”
“When you can get deflections and steals and you can get out and run, that opens everything up. … We played better offense in the second half. We were better in the half court. But the reason we were is because we were able to get some in transition early on, and that starts and ends with defense, and that’s the backbone of our program.”
The host’s offensive efficiency carried over into the fourth quarter, where it out-scored its guests by a slimmer 19-13 margin, but still one that put the game to bed. The win is a big result for Salamanca as it heads into the holiday break, another extended time with no games. But as of right now, Bennett said they are looking forward to, finally, just some time to practice and grow together.
“We need the work,” Bennett said. “We need a little time to recover our bodies. We need that right now. How we’ll continue to build, especially this early in the season, is in practice. … That’s what these guys really relish. … We win a game against a league opponent, a ranked team (and) tomorrow, they’ll get after it, because they recognize the value of that work and that practice.”
Salamanca’s Avery Brown (20) and Jacob Herrick (1) trap a Fredonia player just outside the paint and force a kick-out pass to the top of the key. (Salamanca Warrior Athletics)
Salamanca’s next game will be a part of the Joe DeCerbo Memorial Holiday Showcase on Dec. 27 where they will face off against Pennsylvania’s Bradford at 2:30 p.m. at Allegany-Limestone Central School.
AT SALAMANCA
Fredonia (37)
Koopman 4 3-3 12, Dowdy 3 2-2 9, Luce 3 0-2 6, G. Putney 1 0-0 3, A. Putney 1 1-2 3, Lincoln 1 0-2 2, Hall 1 0-0 2. Totals: 14 6-11 37
Salamanca (60)
Brown 5 2-3 12, Herrick 4 0-0 9, Farmer 3 0-0 8, Isaac 3 0-0 7, Crouse 3 0-0 7, Bradley 3 0-0 6, Holleran 3 0-1 6, Drugg 1 0-0 3, Hill 1 0-0 2. Totals: 26 2-4 60
Fred. 9 19 24 37
Sala. 9 16 41 60
Three-point goals: Fred. 3 (Koopman, G. Putney, Dowdy), Sala. 6 (Farmer 2, Crouse, Drugg, Isaac, Herrick); Total fouls: Fred. 10, Sala. 14; Fouled out: None.
JV: Salamanca won.
