The turnover bug was costly for the Salem High School girls’ basketball team Tuesday, Nov. 25, as the Lady Tigers opened their season with a 61-31 loss to Licking in The Big Cat Classic game at Licking.
Licking hounded Salem into 33 turnovers, converting several of them into transition baskets. The Lady Wildcats got nine points from junior guard Keely Gorman as they took a 17-8 advantage after the first quarter. Licking tacked on another 17 points in the second period while holding the Lady Tigers to four and going into intermission with a 34-12 advantage.
Licking would pull away from Salem by putting up 22 points in the third quarter - eight coming from Gorman - to go into the final period up 56-25.
“We did not take care of the ball,” said Salem head coach Cody Woody. “We played a better second half, with only seven turnovers. We will look to make adjustments to get the turnovers down. We also have got to make shots. We shot 31% (from the field).”
Freshman guard Clara Ball paced the Lady Tigers with nine points while junior guard Raven Gillam added eight.
Gorman finished with 20 points while sophomore guard Hadlee Davis added 13 for Licking, which fell to 1-1 with a first-round loss to Dixon in the Frisco League Tournament Saturday, Nov. 29.
Salem defeated Licking 38-23 in the junior varsity game.
The Lady Tigers are scheduled to open the home portion of their schedule by hosting Union Monday, Dec. 8, with the junior varsity game starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Salem High gym followed by the varsity contest.
Salem (0-1): Walters 0-2-2, Dooley 1-0-2, Mercer 1-0-2, Elliott 1-0-2, Ball 4-0-9, Gillam 4-0-8, Terrill 2-0-4, Bowers 1-0-2, Totals 14-2-31.
Licking (1-1): Stone 1-1-3, Huff 1-4-6, Davis 4-3-13, Rinne 2-2-7, Hart 1-0-2, Gorman 7-4-20, Floyd 4-2-10, Totals 20-16-61.
