2-20-2020 6:46pm

BASKETBALL: Saline JV Wins Thriller at Huron, Freshmen Win Too

The lead changed hands several times throughout the contest, and the largest lead in the game was five points but the JV Hornets used a huge fourth quarter to pull out a thrilling one-point victory, 57-56 which raised the team’s season record to 13-2.

The Hornets outscored Huron 22-13 in the final quarter, connecting on a high percentage of their shots. Fifteen seconds into the quarter, sophomore Tyler Thibeault opened the scoring hitting from three-point range, which were his only points of the game.

Sophomore Braden LaRusso connected twenty seconds later to cut the Huron lead to 43-40. Sophomore Joshua Koch hit a turn around jumper to pull the Hornets within two, 44-42 with 5:55 left.

LaRusso, coming off a sensational game a week ago against Pioneer, hit two jump shots twenty seconds apart to put Saline on top 46-44. Koch then converted an offensive rebound into points and was fouled. Sinking the free throw gave the Hornets a 49-46.4 lead. Koch hit a three-pointer to push the lead to 52-49 with 1:20 left in the game.

Sophomore Evan Merillat salted the game away nailing a three-point shot from the corner with 0:31 seconds remaining to give Saline a 55-51 lead. Then seconds later he made both free throws to up the Hornet lead to 57-54.

Huron raced the court and was allowed to go unimpeded to the hoop as the clock ran out. With the win, the JV Hornets’ record went to 13-2. They will host the Ann Arbor Skyline Eagles on Friday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

THE SALINE POST THREE STARS:

1st Star: Evan Merillat (12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)

2nd Star: Joshua Koch (16 points, 9 rebounds)

3rd Star: Braden LaRusso (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)

FRESHMEN HORNETS GET PAST HURON, WIN 46-41

The Saline freshmen squad battled a tough Huron River Rats squad and came through with a hard fought 46-41 victory. The win sends the freshmen record to 13-2 on the season.

“This team has tough players. The tough players made free throws when it counted and that is what gave us the win,” said freshmen head coach Kirk Boettcher. “All ten points the team scored in the fourth quarter came off of free throws.”

The freshmen will host the Skyline Eagles on Friday. Game time is 4 p.m.

THE SALINE POST THREE STARS:

1st Star: Matthew Walper (10 points)

2nd Star: Zachary FIdh (10 points)

3rd Star: Roman Laurio (9 points)