Northville vs. Saline: 5 Key Questions
On December 5th Northville traveled to Saline for an early season out of conference matchup. Saline started off fast jumping to a 9-0 lead on a barrage of triples. They took a 12 point lead into the 2nd quarter. The game changed its tone as Saline began to ride Emmett Turner’s energy and inside play, taking a 23-9 lead into the half. After the break Northville stepped up on the defensive end and made a mini-run cutting the deficit to single digits. Saline’s Griffin Yaklich responded and helped his squad roll to a 39-23 victory.
5 KEY QUESTIONS:
How good is Griffin Yaklich (2020, G, Saline)
As a sophomore he plays above his age. He’s a smart player and is very skilled offensively. If he can rise to an elite level player, Saline’s ceiling becomes A LOT higher.
Can Gary Laskowski (2019, F, Northville) become a dominant force in the post?
He’s a physical and strong 6-4 post player. He’s active on the glass on both ends. If Laskowski can develop a post move and counter move that gets him close to the rim he could become a huge threat.
Can Saline rebound with the powerhouses?
Northville stayed in the game on the offensive glass. Can they avoid allowing second chance looks against the likes of Pioneer, Huron, and Skyline? Connor Terech, Emmett Turner, and Adam Heisler will shoulder much of the load.
Can Northville’s Mark Grimes (2018, G, Northville) more shots?
This kid has a nice looking jumper and he seemed very comfortable shooting from deep. At 6-4 he could shoot over the defender and create mismatches.
Can Saline and Northville keep their defensive intensity all season?
This was a battle between two good defensive teams. They communicated well, rotated, and put pressure on the ball. If both teams can keep their defensive focus, it will win them games.