Perry’s 32 lift Rochester past Hazel Park
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
HAZEL PARK — Rochester and Hazel Park were supposed to be the favorites in the OAA blue Division boys basketball race this season. Only the Falcons have been able to stay at the top.
Rochester returned home from Vikings territory Thursday night and posted a 68-57 conference road win over Hazel Park to remain in a first-place tie in the league standings with Bloomfield Hills Lahser.
“This is a big win for us, because this keeps u in the lead,” said Rochester coach John Pleasant. “It’s nice to go into their gym, without our starting point guard, and beat them. Hazel Park is a good team. They have some athletes.”
Junior forward Taylor Perry pumped in a career-high 32 points for Rochester (6-4, 4-1), which is trying to win its first league title since 2001.
“I think he could have scored 40 if he didn’t miss a couple of free throws and a couple of good looks at the basket,” said Pleasant. “We haven’t had someone have that type of game here in a while. We needed someone to step up with all of the injuries we’ve had and I think Taylor is starting to do that.
“When he was a freshman, he played like a freshman at times,” continued Pleasant. “I think last year he was a little inconsistent. He had some good games and other times he would disappear. This year he is playing like a player can take over a game.”
Sean McCann added 10 points, also a career high, Mike Klotz scored eight and Billy Klotz added six points for the Falcons, who finished 18-for-26 from the foul line. The Klotz brothers returned to the lineup after being sidelined with injuries, while the Falcons’ starting point guard, Paris Pereira, is still out with an injury.
Mark Joynol scored 16, Wesley Ellis had 14 points and Dakota Ogles had 12 points for Hazel Park (6-4, 3-3), which attempted only eight free throws and converted just four of them.
Hazel Park opened with an 18-16 edge only to see Rochester claw back to take the lead at the half (37-31) thanks to a 21-13 second-quarter run.
Rochester pushed the lead to seven points (50-43) at the start of the fourth quarter before putting the game away with a18-15 edge in the final stanza.
“We have a showdown at Lahser Tuesday, then the Crosstown Showdown Friday against (Rochester) Adams,” reminded Pleasant. “We have a very big week coming up.”
Category: Prep Wraps, Rochester
