YORK TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Dec. 3, 2024) -- The Pirates opened play in the newly-formed Cleveland West Conference with a Tuesday road tilt at Buckeye. The Bucks rode big differentials in the second and fourth periods in defeating Rocky River 69-63.
The home five registered a significant rebound edge in the game and was particularly effective on the boards in the second- and fourth-quarter surges. Buckeye outscored River 18-11 in the second and 21-14 in the fourth. For the game, the Bucks out-rebounded the Pirates 35-24.
Buckeye (1-0, 1-0 CWC) shot a robust 63.2% (12-of-19) from the floor in the second half. With Carter Burgess' 19 total points leading the way, the Bucks battled back from an early 24-16 deficit. Burgess was also Buckeye's top performer on the offensive glass. Five of his eight rebounds extended Buckeye possessions. For the game, the Bucks logged 15 points on put-backs.
The Pirates (0-2, 0-1) were undone by 16-8 (second quarter), 14-3 (third quarter), and 14-7 (fourth quarter) Buckeye scoring runs. River has now allowed 139 points over its two losses. That marks the most points yielded in back-to-back RRHS games since Dec. 29, 2021, and Jan. 4, 2022, when the Buccaneers allowed a combined 140 points to Brunswick and Fairview.
On Tuesday, the Bucks outshot Rocky River 51% to 42%. Both teams were solid from distance, with the home five going 7-of-19 (36.8%) and the Pirates going 8-for-23 (34.8%).
The Buckeye victory snapped a two-game Pirate win streak in the series. The last eight Bucks-Pirates games have netted a 4-4 split.
Box-score highlights on the River side of Tuesday's game included Danny Berg clocking 19 points and four assists, Jacob Radcliffe scoring 18P, and Brandon Nazette filing 12P and six rebounds.
Rocky River's next game will be Dec. 10 at Valley Forge (7 p.m. tip).
CANNON FIRE ...
MEN OF STEAL: River defenders came away with 13 steals at Buckeye, and the Pirates were a plus-5 in turnover margin (15-20). The 13 thefts is a total topped just once last season (15 vs. Lincoln West Feb. 16), when the Buccaneers filed 7.8 steals per game. Jacob Radcliffe (5S) and Brandon Nazette (3S) were Tuesday's leaders in steals.
CONFERENCE CALL: Members of the eight-school Cleveland West Conference are Bay, Buckeye, Lakewood, Normandy, North Olmsted, Rocky River, Valley Forge, and Westlake. All eight previously competed in the Great Lakes Conference which was disbanded after the 2023-24 school year. League members will all play a 14-game round-robin schedule this winter.
by Skip Snow
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