GATES MILLS, Ohio (Feb. 22, 2025) -- The Pirates' 2024-25 season came to an end in Saturday postseason action at Gilmour Academy. The host Lancers took control early and led throughout, as Rocky River was upended 70-60 in the DIII district-tournament tilt in Gates Mills.
Rocky River (14-9) was outshot and out-rebounded by the No. 8 seed in the 53-team DIII Northeast District. And Gilmour, which opened the game with a strong 19-8 first quarter, finished as a plus-3 in turnovers (20-23). The Lancers went 8-of-15 from the field in taking that early 11-point lead. They would shoot a robust 54.9% (28-of-51) for the game in earning their sixth straight win and moving on in the Northeast 4 bracket of the DIII Region 9 Tournament.
Nick Iliano went 12-of-18 from the floor in piling up 25 points for Gilmour. He was locked in a duel with River junior Jacob Radcliffe for game-high points honors. Radcliffe went 3-of-4 from distance as part of a 9-for-15 night; he finished with 24 points.
Iliano and the Lancers (16-7) maintained a stranglehold on the lead after the first frame. Over they final 24 minutes, they allowed the Pirates within single digits just four times. And River would get no closer than eight. Iliano finished with nine rebounds and was the leader of an effort on the boards that saw Gilmour out-rebound the Pirates 30-21.
Rocky River's 23 turnovers marked its most in a single game in more-than two years (since Jan. 31, 2023--23 vs. Avon). The Pirate offense was efficient, however, from distance and at the foul line. The Buccaneers went 7-of-18 (38.9%) on 3s and 15-of-19 (78.9%) on free throws.
Senior captain Michael Swallow went 5-of-6 at the stripe as part of an 11-point, five-rebound, three-assist evening. Jeff Maslar and Brandon Nazette also registered double digits in the scoring column. They each finished with 10 points.
Brayden Titas added 10P and 8R for Gilmour, which now moves on to a Northeast 4 bracket semifinal against No. 17 Padua. The Lancers will host that contest Wednesday as the road to Dayton continues. The Buckeye State championship games will be contested at the University of Dayton's UD Arena March 21-22.
For the Sons of Blackbeard a fine winter of 2024-25 comes to a close. It was a winter that saw the Maroon & White earn a runner-up finish in the first year of the Cleveland West Conference. And until Saturday, Rocky River had not lost back-to-back games since Dec. 30-Jan. 7.
When the Pirates of 25-26 take the floor next winter, they will look to embark on something the program has not accomplished since last century: finish over-.500 for a fifth straight year.
by Skip Snow
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