PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Rocky River earned a Great Lakes Conference road win with a 63-47 victory at Valley Forge on Friday night.

Bouncing back from a sluggish 45-34 loss at Parma a week ago, the Rocky River offense was sharp -- the Pirates scored 40 points in the opening half and were on pace to score 75 for the game until a depth-of-bench slowdown in the fourth quarter.

The Maroon & White used a mid-half 20-6 run in building a 40-23 lead by halftime. River drained 9-of-14 treys over the game's first two quarters. The Pirate Five displayed sharp passing in running their offense, both in half-court sets and in transition. River had 12 first-half assists and finished the game with 17.

Rocky River (8-6, 6-4 GLC) outscored Valley Forge, 17-11, in the third. Only a strong finish by the host Patriots kept the final margin of victory under 20 points.

For the game, the Pirates shot 54.8% (23-of-42) from the field. River out-rebounded Valley Forge, 30-20, and didn't allow any second-chance points in what marked the Pirates' second win over the Patriots this season (52-47 on Dec. 10). Rocky River's 63 points marked the team's most in a win this season.

Tommy Ruma went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and led the Sons of Blackbeard with 20 points on the night. Nathan Robertson went 3-of-3 on a trio of attempts fro beyond 19-feet-and-9-inches. Robertson finished with 13 points and six rebounds, both career highs. Tommy Bebie went 5-of-6 from the floor in scoring 12 points. Charlie Hudson logged eight points, five assists and three steals.

Rocky River will return to the Cozy Hardwood Confines of Rocky River Gymnasium on Tuesday when they host Holy Name (7:30 p.m.).

 

 

by Skip Snow

 

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