PARMA, Ohio (Dec. 8, 2023) -- After a hot-shooting season opener, the Pirates struggled in shooting the basketball in game 2. What was just as problematic for the Buccaneers Friday at Normandy High School's Invaderdome was that they also struggled to rebound and take care of said basketball. And in a Great Lakes Conference East-West crossover clash at Normandy, Rocky River fell to the Invaders 69-46.

Three NHS players -- Jakub Bartosiewicz, Thomas Krilosky, and Kailen Pottinger -- filed double-figure scoring performances, and the Invaders hauled down an excess of offensive rebounds and won the perimeter battle as they defeated the Pirates for the first time since 2019.

Rocky River had numerous cold stretches during the contest held in an enthusiastic atmosphere at the Invaderdome. But none was icier than the 0-fer the Raiders endured at the outset of the night. River failed to score over the game's first four minutes and eventually fell behind 15-2 before ending the first quarter on a 5-0 run.

Senior forward Jaden Charney lifted the visiting five to its best stretch of the game in the second quarter. River knocked down four treys in the period and was within five (20-15) by the midpoint of that frame. Charney booked half of those triples and had eight points for the quarter, but that mid-second approach would be the highwater mark for Rocky River. The Pirates (1-1) trailed by 11 at halftime, and the second half was paved as a one-way street with all the action driven by the Invaders (1-1).

Krilosky registered a game-high 17 points to lead Normandy, which had lost its last six games -- often by close margins -- to the Double-R. Pottinger led the 3-point brigade and had 16 points. Bartosiewicz chimed in with 13.

The Maroon & White were led by Julian Patti (12P), Charney (9P), and Ryan Ricketti (7P). [Full stats unavailable at time of publication.]

The Pirates will open their home season next Friday when the host the Westlake Demons in a GLC West battle at Rocky River Gymnasium.


CANNON FIRE ...

NORMANDY-RIVER SERIES: The Invaders and Pirates have met 16 times since 2012. Rocky River owns a 13-3 edge over that stretch. Normandy's Friday win marked its first in the series since downing RR 59-58 on Feb. 19, 2019.

FROSH-BUCKLING PERFORMANCES: River won Friday's freshman game 45-38. Brandon Nazette had 19 points to lead the Pirates. ... In junior varsity action, Normandy prevailed 44-36. Freshman Colin Hunt knocked down four triples and had 15 points.


by Skip Snow

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