RallyNorth.net

Mon, Feb 25, 2008 07:00 PM @ Lexington

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Playoff Game Division 1 North - Round 1
Salem (MA)	5	7	20	14	46
Lexington	25	19	26	8	78

Powerful Lexington too much for Salem in tourney opener

Monday, February, 25 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

LEXINGTON | Lexington head basketball coach Bob Farias looked around before the opening tap last night and said it was the first time in memory that his team's bandbox gym wasn't sold out for a playoff contest.

"They're expecting to come to the next game," Farias said of the Lexington fans. "We only hold 750-800 people here. They think it's easy to win a state tournament game."

No, Farias hadn't seen the Salem Witches prior to last night's Division 1 North first round matchup. "We went up to scout them last week and they changed the time of the game," he said.

As it turns out, it didn't make much difference.

Manhandled, annihilated, crushed ... take your pick. Lexington had its way in every conceivable aspect as Salem dug more than a hole for itself; it was more like a crater. The end result was their worst postseason loss ever, 78-46.

The Witches fell behind 18-0 after five minutes, were down 25-5 after one quarter and trailed 44-12 at halftime. "We came out horrible," Salem standout freshman Antonio Reyes, who had only six touches.

Lexington sat there in a 2-3 zone, contesting some shots and didn't have to worry about Salem having good looks.

"Nothing was going in," Salem coach Tom Doyle said.

He didn't emphasize nothing strongly enough.

This, it turned out, was Salem's biggest losing margin in its 87-game playoff history, dating back to 1926. This debacle replaced 81-51 loss to Charlestown in 2001.

This will happen, however, if you have your weakest effort of the season and go against a Lexington team that is 134-10 in its home gym in the last eight years.

"I've heard of teams being cold, but we were in an ice box," said Chris Maxson of the Witches, lamenting an 0-for-12 night from field.

Was it the rims?

"The gym was perfect. No excuses," Maxson said.

You live by the three-point shot; you can die from it just easily. Salem was 1-for-18 in the first half from 3-point land and 7-for-36 (19 percent) for the game. From the floor, Salem was 17-for-64 (26 percent).

They forced a lot of shots, got beat badly on the boards and were victims of a transition game that made it look too easy for the Minutemen.

"We tried everything we could," Doyle lamented. "We never got into a flow. I don't think it was a matters or jitters; they had some great players. Give 'em credit.

"You know, I was making substitutions in the last quarter and the starters didn't want to come out. There was no quit in his team in any game all year; tonight was no different."

The four Salem guards had trouble hitting jumpers last night. Only Bryan Oritz, who three trifectas and 11 points, had any semblance of touch. Junior Lugo had 14 points, but was 5-for-18 overall. Antonio Reyes was 3-0-6 and didn't see the ball that much.

"I watched Salem in the warm-ups and they were shooting it well. They looked very confident," Farias said.

"They got the big jump on us," Lugo said, "and that was it. This was our worst game.

"I feel bad that I won't be wearing the Salem uniform anymore. It's sad to lose like this."

The loss snapped Salem's seven game win streak, as well as a streak of seven consecutive playoff openers.