ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Jan. 11, 2025) -- Rocky River was tagged with just three turnovers in a taut, physical contest, and guards Brandon Nazette and Jacob Radcliffe combined to shoot 13-of-20 from the field and score 36 points, as the Pirates held on to defeat the North Olmsted Eagles 59-56 in Saturday night Cleveland West Conference action at Rocky River Gymnasium.
In a wild battle, complete with 15 ties and lead changes, the Sons of Blackbeard closed out a busy week of basketball that had thus far seen one blowout loss and one blowout win. Saturday's tussle between the Pirates and Eagles was mostly played within a four-point swing either way after North Olmsted (2-8, 1-5 CWC) managed to rally from an early 17-8 deficit.
Rocky River (8-4, 5-2) and North Olmsted both shot 48% from the floor and 38% from 3-point range. The Pirates leveraged six more free-throw attempts (13 to the Eagles' six) and a plus-7 in the turnover exchange in earning their third straight win over North Olmsted.
The Eagles limited the Maroon & White to just two offensive rebounds (NOHS out-rebounded RRHS 26-15 overall), and tremendous North Olmsted passing tested a River defense unable to get key stops at times. The Eagles finished with 20 assists on 21 field goals. The home five had no answer for senior center Donovan Martin, who went 9-of-11 from the field and finished with a game-high 22 points. Senior guard Naoki Sato ran the Eagle attack and added 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
The Pirates countered with Radcliffe going 7-of-12 from the floor (including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc) on a 21-point night and Nazette knocking down 6-of-8 attempts (including 3-of-5 from 3-point-land) in scoring 15. Danny Berg chipped in with 8P and 6A. Senior captain Michael Swallow added 10P.
The victory capped off a successful weekend double.
River routed Normandy 74-24 on Friday. Dating back to last season, the Pirates have win three in a row when playing the back half of a two-games-in-as-many-days scenario.
With the loss, the Eagles are now 1-7 over their last eight games.
CANNON FIRE ...
'CLIFFE NOTES: Junior guard Jacob Radcliffe went into this weekend averaging 18.4 points per game. That is the would-be highest scoring average for RRHS since 2015-16 when Jack Corrigan averaged 22.8 PPG. Through River’s first 10 games, Radcliffe was shooting 47% from the floor and 38% from beyond the arc.
ON DECK: Rocky River’s next game will be Tuesday night on the road. And that road fits the name of what is a special long-time rivalry. It’ll be the Battle of Wagar/210, as the Pirates pay a visit to the Fairview Warriors (Tuesday at 7 p.m.).
by Skip Snow
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