WESTLAKE, Ohio (Jan. 24, 2025) -- The Pirates were sunk by superior shooting in a hard-fought Cleveland West Conference battle at Westlake High School Friday night. The host Demons shot a blistering 60% from the floor in taking down Rocky River 79-67.

The visiting Buccaneers held sway with small margins in the first and third quarters, but the home five countered in outscoring River by a combined 17 points (49-32) over the second and fourth stanzas. A definitive late-game 23-9 run by the Demons helped lift Westlake to its ninth win in its last 11 games and a response to a 57-54 loss to Rocky River back on Dec. 13.

For the game, Westlake (11-4, 5-4 CWC) went 27-of-45 from the field. WHS tripled nine times in 19 attempts (47.4%) and shot 80% across 20 looks from the free-throw line. Their 79 points marked the most scored against River this season. That tally marked the most against the Pirates since Dec. 17, 2021, when Westlake defeated River 83-63 on the same floor. The Double-R has now yielded 70-plus three times this season.

On Friday, sophomore AJ DeFazio (17 points, seven rebounds) and senior Andrew Wallenhorst (18P) each hit three 3-pointers and combined for 35 points.

Rocky River (9-6, 6-3) got double-figure scoring from four sources (Rowan Kennedy 14P, Jeff Maslar 10P, Jacob Radcliffe 15P, Michael Swallow 14P), but the Pirates -- who shot a respectable 48.9% (22-of-45) from the floor -- could not match Westlake's firepower in the charged atmosphere in front of a big crowd.

The Pirates and Demons have alternated wins over their last six meetings.

The Maroon & White are slated to host Valley Forge Wednesday at 7 p.m.

by Skip Snow

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