NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Dec. 19, 2023) -- Rocky River remained unbeaten in Great Lakes Conference West Division play with a 64-53 triumph over North Olmsted Tuesday. The win was of the wire-to-wire variety, but for two quarters-and-change, it played out like a high-wire act.

The Pirates (3-1, 2-0 GLC West) looked to be cruising after bolting to a 27-3 lead through the opening eight minutes. They were outscored 16-8 in the second quarter and still held a commanding 16-point lead (35-19) at the half.

The Eagles (2-3, 0-2) kept climbing out of their first-period hole to make things quite interesting in the third. North Olmsted outscored River 26-11 in that frame and went into the fourth quarter trailing 46-45.

A trio of 3-pointers -- two by Julian Patti and one by Jaden Charney -- helped the Buccaneers close out the game by scoring 18 of the last 26 points.

Charney scored a career-high 21 points for the game; he had 13 of Rocky River's 27 points in the first quarter. Patti finished with 12P. Michael Swallow (9P) and Danny Berg (8P) were also prominent in the scoring column of the River scorebook.

Eggie Cordero (18P) and Naoki Sato (14P) paced North Olmsted.

Tuesday's game was the front end of a two-day, NBA-type schedule for the Sons of Blackbeard. On Wednesday, Rocky River will take on Strongsville in a special neutral-site contest at the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Ind. The facility is the site of home games played by the "Hickory Huskers" in the 1986 feature film Hoosiers. The Pirates and Mustangs will tangle in a 7 p.m. contest.


by Skip Snow

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