Wednesday, March 22, 2000
Salamone's move great for Purcell Marian
Scott transfer thrives in GCL
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Brandon Salamone
(Tony Jones photo)
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After years of hearing about the thrill of playing basketball in the Greater Catholic League, Brandon Salamone is experiencing it.
Salamone, a varsity player for Scott High in Taylor Mill, Ky., as a sophomore, enrolled at Purcell Marian two years ago after his family moved to East Walnut Hills from Fort Wright.
“My dad (Tony) played for LaSalle and constantly talked about how great it was to play in the GCL,” said Salamone, a 6-foot senior point guard. “I'd have to say he was right.”
The transfer has paid off for Salamone and Purcell Marian, which qualified to the state semifinals for the first time since 1985 when the Cavaliers won the Class AAA championship.
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AT A GLANCE
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• Matchup: Purcell Marian (23-3) vs. Cambridge (21-4)
• What: Division II state semifinals
• When: 11 a.m. Thursday
• Where: Ohio State's Schottenstein Center, Columbus
• Tickets: $7, available at school through today or at gate beginning at 10 a.m.
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At 11 a.m. Friday, the Cavaliers play Cambridge in the Division II semifinals. The winner advances to Saturday's finals against Lima Shawnee or Warrensville Heights.
“I played summer AAU ball for years with Jaime (Cooper) and Keith (Jackson) before I came to Purcell Marian,” Salamone said. “I also knew most of the other guys, which made the transition smooth.”
Salamone, who has outstanding quickness, has proved to be the missing link for a Cavaliers team that had strong inside players (Jackson and Cooper) but lacked a ball handler who also could shoot the 3-pointer.
“Brandon is so much more than just a 3-point shooter,” Purcell Marian coach Mike Gergen said. “He's tough as nails and is a good leader on the floor.”
When opponents go to a zone against the Cavaliers, Salamone's at his best.
“The biggest reason teams use a zone is to clog up the middle,” Gergen said. “Brandon is an excellent outside shooter but can also penetrate very well.”
It was Salamone's outside shooting that kept the Cavaliers in the regular-season game against Division I state semifinalist St.Xavier in January. St.X went on to win the game in overtime.
“Last year was Brandon's first under my system,” Gergen said. “He's got a year's experience under his belt and has made tremendous strides on and off the court.”
Salamone averaged nearly 12 points and four assists. He was the team's leading 3-point shooter and has developed into a good defensive player.
Few teams press the Cavaliers because of Salamone's speed and ball handling skills.
“Actually, all our starters can bring the ball up the court against the press,” Gergen said. “We don't have one leader. There are four seniors in the lineup, and they all look to each other.”
Although Salamone is satisfied with the role of distributing the ball to Cooper and Jackson, he's also capable of lighting up the scoreboard. His career high is 38 against Roger Bacon last season.
“The term "gym rat' isn't used much any more,” Gergen said. “But that's probably the best way to describe Brandon. He's always in the gym shooting and working on his game.”
Salamone will be one of the Cavaliers' key players against a Cambridge team that is expected to use a zone to slow the tempo.
“We have some unfinished business,” Salamone said. “Last year we beat Roger Bacon twice during the season, but they knocked us out of the sectional tournament. That was the wake-up call, and everyone has worked hard to get here.”
Sunday story: Purcell advances to state
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