Staff photo / Brian Yauger Salem’s Rylee Hutton pushes past the defense of Girard freshman Caylee Wilkes. Hutton finished with a game-high 20 points.

GIRARD — It’s been a rough go for Salem to begin the season.

A new coach that started late, the graduation of a very impactful senior class, and a brutally tough schedule to open the year, the Quakers were behind the 8-ball from the get-go.

Salem ended 2023 on a high note however, dispatching Girard 64-38.

“It’s been rough,” Quakers coach Tracy Miller said. “Today’s our third win, but our schedule is brutal. Our league schedule is tough already with West Branch and then you’ve got Canfield on our schedule, Ursuline, Louisville, and this Girard team was scrappy today. We’ve just got to take things one game at a time, but I tell you what, this win right here on the road. It actually brightens up our kids, our locker and brightens up our coaching staff. We’re just very pleased with the win today.”

Salem was led by a trio of seniors on Saturday with Rylee Hutton (20 points), Lauryn Barton (17 points) and Rylie Flickinger (15 points) each crossing the double-figure threshold.

“We’re so blessed to be able to have a group of girls like this,” Miller said. “We didn’t have a June or July with these kids, so we’re still learning some things that we should have learned over the summer.

“But the girls have been good, they don’t miss practice, and they come and work hard. It’s just a good, positive feeling today. It’ll be a positive bus ride home, and just a good win for us.”

The Quakers move to 3-7 on the season with the victory.

Girard falls to 3-6 on the year. To coach Joe Bornemiss, the issue comes down to efficiency and little mistakes. Making little mistakes against a team like Salem is asking for trouble.

“They got up on us a little bit,” Bornemiss said. “They took Mia (Malito) away, they took (Makenzee White) away, they took (Aly) Gassman away, but again, no excuses. You can’t go 3-10 from the free throw line and have five missed layups in the first half and expect to be around a good team like that. It just doesn’t work. You have to be able to get to the free throw line and make those free throws and make your layups. And when you don’t do those things against good teams. That’s what happens to you today.”

The Quakers kick off 2024 with a rematch against league rival Alliance. The two butted heads earlier in the year, with the Aviators squeaking out a 39-35 victory.

As the season moves on and the girls get more comfortable in Salem’s new system, expect the team’s transition offense to become more and more potent.

“They just have to understand that we’re a fast-breaking team and we’re not going to set up an offense until we get to the half-court area,” Miller said. “We scored a lot off transition today, and I think we learned that we can beat a good team. Girard’s schedule is tough, same as ours. It was a good team victory. JV started us off with a win, and the varsity came out and played hard.”

Girard takes the quick bus ride to McDonald in a Boxing Day boys and girls doubleheader. The girls start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

byauger@tribtoday.com