ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Feb. 2, 2024) -- The Pirates clocked a 49.1% effective field goal mark, their best in a single game since Jan. 5, as Rocky River snapped a four-game losing skid in a 59-21 triumph over North Olmsted Friday.
Holding the Eagles to a 20.5% eFG, River allowed the single-game lowest point total in its game-by-game statistical era (since 2005-06). North Olmsted went just 6-of-39 (15.4%) from the field. The Eagles scored six points or less in three of the game's four quarters.
Rocky River won in wire-to-wire fashion. Its final 38-point cushion marked its largest margin of victory since Dec. 27, 2022 (69-30 win vs. John Hay).
Six Pirate Greybeards -- Jaden Charney, Gio Lizzini, Julian Patti, Ryan Ricketti, Joe Schill, Hakeem Zayed -- combined for 40 of River's 59 points on an evening that marked Senior Night for the Buccaneer program. That group also filed 29 rebounds on a night that saw the home five dominate its opponents on the boards. The Pirates out-rebounded the Eagles 45-23.
Rocky River (7-7, 4-2 Great Lakes Conference West Division) knocked down five triples as part of a 20-2 fourth quarter. For the game, the Sons of Blackbeard made 10 3-pointers, their most in a single game since Dec. 23, 2021 (10 vs. Wheelersburg). River's game against North Olmsted included a 10-of-28 (35.7%) performance from distance and a 12-of-27 (44.4%) effort on 2-pointers. The Pirates registered a season-high 19 assists on their 22 field goals.
The victory in front of a charged Senior Night crowd at Rocky River Gymnasium marked the team's first since Jan. 9. It closed out a season sweep of the Eagles (6-9, 2-4) who have now lost five straight games since Jan. 12, and it bumped River's record vs. NOHS since 2013 to 8-1.
Charney and Zayed paced the Pirate scoring effort with 10 points each. Patti had 6P, 10 rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots. Lizzini added 7P, 8R, and 2B; Ricketti ledgered 5P, 3A, and 2S.
Always competing and trying to get better each day. "Jaden, Gio, Julian, Ryan, Joe, and Hakeem are great leaders and tremendous young men," said coach Mike Murray. "They have us always competing and trying to get better each day."
Dylon Susan had 7P to lead North Olmsted.
River's Roundball Raiders are slated to return to action Monday at Valley Forge (7:30 p.m.).
by Skip Snow
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