ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Dec. 6, 2023) -- The Pirates passed, shot, defended, stole, and blocked at a high level as they rebounded from a Saturday a setback with a 47-21 triumph over Normandy in a Wednesday evening Great Lakes Conference crossover battle at Rocky River Gymnasium.
The Double-R overcame a slow start to eventually double up the Invaders, bouncing back from a lackluster performance in a 47-37 loss to Avon Saturday. River, which shot just 28% from the field and 50% from the foul line and struggled at times to get stops Saturday, was mostly sharp throughout against Normandy (0-4). And sharp at both ends of the floor.
Except, perhaps, for the opening four minutes of the game.
The Pirates deployed a high-energy defense from the tip. They would challenge Invader shots (and block six) at a high level all night. The Maroon & White came away with 12 steals, often foiling Normandy in both transition and half-court play. But the Rocky River (3-1) offense arrived at the party fashionably late. The Buccaneers did not notch their first points until four minutes-and-12 seconds had gone by.
River's first points on the night were bundled in a 3-pack on a 20-footer by Ava Patti. Thanks to the River defense, that triple tied the contest 3-3. The long-distance delivery was a portent of things to come for a Pirate offense that would do much of its damage three points at a time.
Meanwhile, across a sizable stretch of the opening half, the Double-R defense held Normandy to zero points at time. With triples added by Nora Bruder, Olivia Dewey, and Claudia Roche, and a big second frame from Elizabeth Lang, Rocky River outscored the Invaders 22-3 over a stretch spanning the first and second quarters. The Pirates built a 22-8 lead by halftime.
The first shot attempt of the second half was a made 3-pointer by Mackenzie Russell, and the Raiders were off and running to close out the dominant victory. Patti took control of the game for several minutes in the third, and the Pirates led 41-28 by the end of that stanza. The senior forward finished the night with a game-high 16 points; 10 of those were tallied in the third.
For the game, the Pirates hit seven triples. Overall, they outshot the Invaders 33% to 17%. They out-rebounded their guests 41-29 and outscored them 17-2 in points off turnovers.
River's leading scorers were Patti, Dewey (10 points), and Lang (8P). Patti, who added seven rebounds and four steals to her line, is now within 80 points of 1,000 for her career (she has 923).
Lang's evening included eight rebounds, a pair of blocked shots, and two steals. The freshman center was a plus-22 in 21 minutes of action.
Mackenzie Russell added 5P and four assists. Kylie Crane had three blocked shots. River's six blocks as a team marked a season-high, as did the Pirates' seven 3-pointers.
Rocky River's next game will be its lid-lifter in Great Lakes Conference West Division play. The Pirates travel to Elyria Catholic on Dec. 13.
CANNON FIRE ...
ERASED INVADERS: Wednesday's win by 26 marked the second-largest margin of victory in this series since 2016 (60-32 RR win on Dec. 12, 2020). Over that stretch, the Pirates are 13-4 against the Invaders. River has won 11 in a row against Normandy.
GLC FORMAT: With Fairview's post-fall-sports exit from the Great Lakes Conference, the league set-up for hoops includes two divisions -- East and West -- as in previous years. The 2023-24 East Division is comprised of Buckeye, Holy Name, Lakewood, Normandy, Parma, and Valley Forge. The West includes Bay, Elyria Catholic, North Olmsted, Rocky River, and Westlake. The GLC will recognize East and West champions based on intradivision results and will not hold a championship game or tournament.
YOUNG BUCS: In junior varsity action, River defeated Normandy 38-33. Not to be outdone by their varsity counterparts, the JV Pirates drained eight 3-pointers. The Buccaneers' leading scorers were Maliyah McGinty (9P), Nora Bruder (9P), Bridget Carlin (7P), and Mia Atwater (6P).
by Skip Snow
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