LAKEWOOD, Ohio (Feb. 4, 2025) -- In Tuesday's tussle for Cleveland West Conference supremacy, the Lakewood Rangers prevailed 61-52, handing Rocky River just its second setback since Jan. 10.
The contest at Lakewood High School featured the first- and second-place squads in the early-February league standings. And with the Rangers earning the conquest in the Battle of the Bridge Part II, they clinch the title as best in the eight-team circuit because their 11 CWC victories cannot be eclipsed by the Pirates or any other pursuers with just two games remaining on the league slate.
On Tuesday, Lakewood completed its season sweep of Rocky River (11-7, 8-4 CWC) with a strong third quarter in an otherwise tight game. The Rangers (14-4, 11-1), who downed the Maroon & White 75-41 in Rocky River Jan. 7, tripled up the Buccaneers 19-6 in that third frame.
The two schools are separated by just three-and-a-half miles of west-side pavement, but in Tuesday's first half a pirate's eye patch could cover the distance between the Raiders and Rangers. Three-pointers by Brandon Nazette, Jacob Radcliffe, and Michael Swallow and a late-quarter 3-point play by Danny Berg helped lift River to a 14-13 edge through the first quarter. Lakewood pushed back with a run, but the two sides went into halftime separated by just two points (LHS led 27-25).
The first half was comprised of 13 ties and lead changes. The Pirates would gain no such level footing in the second.
With senior forward Luke Bonvissuto scoring six of Lakewood's first eight points of the second half, the Rangers worked their way to a six-point lead (35-29) over the first three minutes of the third. And the home five was just getting started.
The Rangers would go 9-of-14 from the floor in the third. They closed out the frame on a 9-2 run and took a commanding 46-31 lead into the fourth.
Rocky River logged a bit of a never-say-die, lunch-pail comeback effort late. The Pirates got within eight on a near-proximity jumper by Swallow at the three-minute mark. They got within six on a Berg lay-up at 1:20. But a deep, veteran-laden Lakewood squad -- a team that has filed six 20-point wins in conference play this winter -- closed out the final 80 seconds without drama.
For the game, the Rangers outshot the Pirates 51% to 40%, and Lakewood doubled up River in looks from the foul line (14-7). LHS dominated on the glass as well: the Rangers yielded just five RRHS offensive boards and out-rebounded the Pirates 33-19 overall.
Sophomore forward Riley Verderber went 8-of-9 from the field in scoring a game-high 17 points. Lucas Seguine added 15 points; Bonvissuto had 12. Bonvissuto and Verderber each logged eight rebounds; Seguine registered four steals.
Radcliffe went 7-of-12 in entering a 16-point line in the box score. The junior also had five boards and five steals. Swallow finished with 13 points; Berg had nine.
Lakewood is now 3-0 since suffering its lone loss of the CWC campaign, a 64-61 setback vs. Buckeye on Jan. 24. The Rangers have defeated Rocky River in three straight.
Tuesday's contest across the river marked the first of two road games this week for the Pirates, who are now 3-4 this season away from Rocky River Gymnasium. On Friday, the Buccaneers will play at North Olmsted (7 p.m. tip).
by Skip Snow
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