HOWELL — Sophie Daugard knew her team was playing well long before halftime Tuesday night, but coach Tim Olszewski made it official at halftime.
“He loves to nit-pick us in the locker room,” she said, smiling. “He says, ‘I love to do that, because it means you’re playing great.'”
It was hard to argue with the results.
The Highlanders, playing a Salem team they struggled to beat the first time around, blew out the Rocks on Tuesday in a 77-39 win at Howell High School.
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Howell (10-3 overall, 9-0 KLAA West) had four players in double figures, led by Maeve St. John’s 18. Daugard had eight points, most of them driving the lane and banging into Salem players on her way to the basket.
It’s a part of Daugard’s game that is hereditary, to a point.
“I have older siblings,” she explained, chuckling. “They pushed me around.”
And the game was pretty much a laugher for the Highlanders, who scored 22 points in the first quarter while holding Salem to nine.
This time around, the Rocks (6-6, 3-6) couldn’t contain the Highlanders or get much going on their own. The resulting frustration led to three technicals against the Salem bench and the ejection of Rocks coach Rod Wells.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders rolled on.
Daugard and Caitlyn Rayl did their parts, Rayl with 11 points while going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and playing solid defense.
“Caitlyn is an unsung hero,” Olszewski said. “She scores some, but she is the backbone of our team. She played great defense, she gets after it, she hits her free throws and can hit the open 3 if you leave her open.”
Their success driving to the hoop helped Amelia Storm and Molly Duerloo get open as well. Storm finished wit 15 points and Duerloo 12.
The Highlanders’ 77 points nearly matched the total by both teams in their first meeting. Howell committed 21 turnovers in that game, prompting a team meeting that turned the season around.
“After seeing yourself play liked that, we said we don’t ever want to do that ever again,” Daugard said.
And, Olszewski said, his players have been true to their word.
“They have done an outstanding job since then,” he sad. “They’ve busted their butts in practice and I think you saw the fruits of their hard work, not only early but through the entire game. I’m very proud of them, very happy that their hard work is paying off.”
Salem sophomore Madison Morson led all scorers with 23 points.
