Pirates beat Rockets in comeback fashion

Trailing for three and a half quarters, Rocky River took its first lead against Bay Village with 4:40 left on Dec. 16 and held on tight for a 61-60 victory in West Shore Conference play.

The two schools are no strangers to close games against one another. With Jared Shetzer’s Rockets leading for most of the game, Bay could not keep it together long enough to eek out the road win in a big rivalry game.

“They got up and pressured us and we became very stagnant on offense, which is not something that these guys typically do,” Shetzer said. “We didn’t take care of the basketball either and when those two things happen, we’re not very good.”

With a 47-40 lead heading into the final quarter, Rocky River stayed the course and kept hitting shots to cut the lead. Finally, with 4:40 left in the game, the Pirates’ Zach Waite sunk a put-back shot to take a 49-48 lead.

From there, Rocky River built up a lead as high as 58-50 in the closing minutes before the Rockets fought back.

“I’ll tell you, that stretch we hit a couple of shots there and stretched it to the 58-50 lead,” Rocky River coach MikeMurray said. “Then we just had some uncharacteristic turnovers, poor passes and guys were caught not being where they should be and they made us pay for it.”

Climbing back into the game with less than 1:50 left to play, the Rockets’ Rex Sunahara ripped down an alley-oop that rocked the Bay crowd right back into the game to pull within five at 58-53.

Sinking another basket, the Rockets pulled to within two at 59-57 with 20 seconds left. But some clutch free throw shooting by Rocky River closed the game out as a last second two pointer was not enough to force overtime.

The physical matchup brings Bay to 0-3 on the young season as many players on the team work to focus on basketball after postseason action in soccer and football had a big impact on several key players.

“We’re struggling a lit bit in terms of being in basketball shape right now,” Shetzer said. “A long football season, long soccer season is a part of the issue. As much as we don’t want to use that as an excuse or a crutch, I think that’s the reality of where we’re at right now.

“I give Rocky River all of the credit in the world. They slowed us down and at times we allowed them to slow us down, but they forced a lot of turnovers and we’ve got to take better care of the basketball.”

As for the Pirates, a big conference win over its biggest rival means big things in Murray’s eyes.

“We knew coming in that Bay is as talented as anybody in the league with a lot of kids back,” Murray said. “They play really well and they are wellcoached so for us it builds confidence.

“You’re going to have to win on nights like this where you don’t shoot it as well in the first half yet still get the job done, so it gives our kids confidence where they can prove they can do that.”

Rocky River improved to 3-2 with the win and 1-1 in the WSC.