The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
DREAMS DEFERRED
Hornets fall to Lincoln 52-43
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
In the previous meeting between the Lincoln and Saline boys' basketball teams, the Railsplitters could do nothing to stop Saline's Kyle Larsen once he touched the ball.
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So in Monday's first-round district playoff game at Adrian, Lincoln did everything it could to keep Larsen from touching the ball in the first place. The Railsplitters limited the junior center to 13 points —23 fewer than last time —and eliminated the Hornets 52-43.
"They had a great game plan," Breneman said. "They just came after us. We had open players, but we couldn't get the ball to them. Give Lincoln credit."
Saline's efforts to get Larsen the ball was hamstrung by their recent loss of senior point guards Steven Breneman –– to a broken hand –– and Jason Danneffel –– to a code of conduct violation. In their absence, the Lincoln defense was able to force 23 Hornet turnovers and frustrate the Saline offense.
"The effort was there, no question," Breneman said. "But our guards are simply not point guards, and Lincoln is so quick. (Saline) gave it everything they had. It's just a tough set of circumstances."
Despite those problems, a solid defensive effort enabled the Hornets to pull within 29-27 on a Mike Adler basket with 3:40 to play in the third quarter.
But a Lincoln basket and two missed Larsen free throws gave the Railsplitters the last shot of the period. Brian Cogdell hit a difficult fallaway jumper with three seconds remaining, and after scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter Lincoln had put together an 8-0 run and held a commanding 37-27 lead.
Saline trailed 43-34 with 2:38 when they made one last run at extending their season. Two free throws each from Scott Harris and Larsen sandwiched a five-second call forced by Gabe Helmuth, trimming the lead to five.
But following a Lincoln miss on the front end of a one-and-one, the Hornets suffered another critical turnover as Larsen could not find Derek Fairchild with an inbounds pass. Lincoln would go on to hit five of their next six free throws for a 49-38 lead with 1:02 left.
Five straight points from Helmuth and four free throw misses from Lincoln brought Saline within two possessions again, 49-43. But two free throws with 17.3 seconds left finally sealed the win for the Railsplitters.
Larsen led Saline in both points and rebounds with 13 and 10, respectively. He was joined in double digits by Harris with 10 points, followed by Aaron Ziegler with eight, Helmuth with six, Adler with four and Fairchild with two.
Powered by eight first-quarter Larsen points, Saline ended the first quarter on a 12-2 run and held a 14-11 lead. The Hornets scored only four points and hit one field goal in the second quarter, however, and trailed 23-18 at the half.
The loss ends a difficult Saline season at 5-16, but Breneman had nothing but praise for his players' commitment and his seniors —Adler, Ziegler, Fairchild, and Breneman — for their "incredible" leadership and positive attitude.
"I could not be happier with our seniors," he said. "This team has stayed together and always pulled for each other. They've pumped me up, they've made it exciting for me to come to practice and coach. I can't say enough about the effort all of them have made."
Bedford 46, Saline 40
On Feb. 27, Saline fell on the road to the Kicking Mules after a wild fourth quarter that saw the Hornets score 18 points and the Mules 19. Saline led 9-5 after the first quarter, but trailed 18-13 at halftime and 27-22 after three.
Larsen scored 18 to lead the Hornets, followed by Harris with 12, Fairchild and Adler with four each, and Helmuth with two.
Adrian 44, Saline 32
The Saline offense struggled Friday as Adrian avenged its earlier overtime loss to the Hornets. The Maples outscored Saline 16-7 in the third quarter to turn what had been a close 15-12 game at halftime into a double-digit victory.
Fairchild led Saline with nine points, followed by Adler with six, Larsen with five, and Ziegler, Helmuth and Harris with four each.
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