ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates faltered in their 2019-20 season opener as Rocky River lost to Westlake, 71-51, on Friday night.
On a night the River program celebrated the start of its 100th season, the Maroon & White struggled to manage a half-a-hundred points on the Rocky River Gymnasium scoreboard. The Pirates (0-1) scored just five points in a first quarter that saw them cede a 15-5 lead to the visiting Demons (1-0). Sharp Westlake passing and solid shooting from beyond the arc led to an 18-point lead (37-19) by halftime.
The second half was a boat race, with the visitors keeping a clamp on a 20-point advantage throughout. The Demons got their lead to 25 points (62-37) by the 4:45-mark of the fourth. The balance of the final frame was a bench depth exhibition for both sides.
The 71-51 final score was a flip of the script for Westlake which lost by 26 (76-50) to the Pirates a year ago (Nov. 30, 2018). The Demons have now won 10-of-the-last-15 meetings between the two west-side neighbors.
Rocky River was just 1-of-16 (6.3%) from 3-point range in Friday's contest. The Pirates shot 31.4 % (16-of-51) from the field.
The Pirates are 1-4 over their last four season openers. The 100th season of Rocky River Basketball is slated to continue with the team's Great Lakes Conference opener, a 7:30 p.m. tilt at Normandy on Tuesday.
by Skip Snow
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