ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates tallied a season-low in points, as Rocky River was routed by Holy Name, 58-38, on Friday night.
River shot a paltry 18.9% from the floor (10-of-53) in suffering the 20-point loss in Great Lakes Conference play. The Pirates connected on just three 2-point buckets over the first 29 minutes of play. An out-of-rhythm Buccaneer bunch was outscored, 19-6, over a crucial stretch of time over the second and third periods. The visiting Green Wave took control of the game midway through the first quarter and never looked back, as they closed out a two-game, regular-season sweep of the Pirates.
Rocky River (7-7, 5-5 GLC) had no answer for Holy Name senior center Joshua Petrilla, who scored 23 points while hauling down 16 rebounds. Petrilla went 11-of-14 from the field on a night that saw the Green Wave shoot 53.2% (25-of-47) from the field. Holy Name scored a whopping 42 points in the paint and out-rebounded the sluggish Pirates, 40-31.
"I thought we looked a step behind all night," said Head Coach Mike Murray. "I'm disappointed that we let our offense affect our defensive effort."
River's scoring leaders were Tommy Bebie (nine points) and Braedon Spies (seven) but even they went a combined 4-of-17 from the floor.
CANNON FIRE ...
YOUNG BUCS: Rowan McDougal paced the Pirates with 22 points in Saturday's freshman game, a 35-30 triumph for the Double-R. The JV game was ended on a 3-point buzzer beater by Gavin O'Brien. River won that game, 37-35. O'Brien would also score four points in the varsity contest.
DIALED IN: Braedon Spies went 2-of-4 from distance and is now shooting 38% from 3-point range this season. Spies has drained a team-high 26 treys on the season. He's hit multiple threes in seven of the team's last nine games. ... Junior forward Zachary Wearsch netted a pair of free throws to log his first varsity points.
by Skip Snow
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