PRINT ARTICLE

Print    Close This Window
Pirates be-Deviled in championship tilt
RR Boys' Basketball
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- A hot-shooting Rocky River five turned cold on Wednesday, as the Pirates were routed 71-40 by the Brunswick Blue Devils.

After shooting 46.3% (68-for-147) over its three previous games, River faltered, shooting just 32.7% (16-of-49) in a contest that marked the championship game of the Rocky River-hosted RBA Holiday Classic. With the Pirates struggling to produce points, the Blue Devils capitalized, especially in the game's second quarter.

Rocky River (3-3) and Brunswick went into the second tied 13-13. With the Pirates shooting 25% (4-of-16) in the period, the Blue Devils steadily built a double-digit lead. The visitors led 34-22 at halftime.

River's third quarter was a bit better, but the Blue Devils took care of the basketball, not allowing any protracted runs. They led 52-34 through three.

Things went sideways in the fourth when the Pirates went 1-for-10 from the floor. The Double-R made a 19-for-5 exchange over the final eight minutes.

Brunswick shot 48% (24-for-50) for the game. The Devils outdueled Rocky River on the boards 34-26 and were a plus-6 in turnovers (7 to 13).

Forward Braden Hamilton torched the Pirates for 32 points en route to earning tournament MVP honors. Hamilton went 6-of-11 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

The Pirates were led by Robby Lang (12 points, three assists), Will DeClerck (11 points, five rebounds, three assists), and Braedon Spies (nine points, six rebounds). And that trio combined to go 13-of-24 from the field. The rest of the River lineup went a combined 3-of-25.

Rocky River's 40 points marked a season low.



CANNON FIRE ...

RUNNER-UP HARDWARE: 
Robby Lang and Braedon Spies were tabbed as All-Holiday Tournament Team members. The River-Brunswick game concluded eight games of basketball in the two-day, eight-team, boys-girls event.

UP NEXT: The Pirates' next scheduled game is slated for Tuesday at Fairview.


by Skip Snow


# # # RR # # #