by Bill Turner
The Salem girl’s basketball team saw its run through the state tournament come to an end Tuesday night in a courageous battle against a much taller Liberty-Bealeton team that proved to be too much for the Lady Spartans.
Although Salem stayed close in the first quarter, Liberty used an 18-6 second quarter advantage to take a 32-17 lead to the break. In the second half it was all Liberty as the Lady Eagles pulled away for the easy win. For Salem, it was like trying to shoot a golf ball through a grove of pine trees, as Liberty’s superior height forced Salem to alter most shot attempts.
“We don’t see that size (player) in the River Ridge,” Salem’s Carlye Garst said after the game. “It’s no excuse; we just have not seen this.”
Salem’s Tay Taylor led the Lady Spartans with 17 points, but only went 6-for-16 in shooting against the taller Eagles. Garst added 8 points, but was 3-for-13
“I’m really proud of our kids,” Salem head coach Dewayne Harrel noted afterward. “Liberty was a bigger, stronger team. Not being able to make shots hurt us.”