Adams-Rochester to clash at Crosstown Showdown

LEADING THE WAY:Rochester Adams freshman guard Press Kampe will gain his first experience as a player at the Crosstown Showdown, a community event at Oakland University pitting Rochester and Adams in an boys and girls basketball double-header. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — The rivalry between Rochester and Rochester Adams in some sports goes back some 40 years to the 1969-70 school year, when Adams opened its doors.

The rivalry still stands today.

Although somewhat different due to the district moving to three high schools in 2002, the Adams-Rochester tussle will continue in basketball this Friday night inside the confines of Oakland University’s Athletics Center O’rena.

The fifth installment of the Crosstown Showdown will take place with a varsity basketball double-header. The Falcons and Highlanders will battle in girls basketball at 6 p.m., with the boys contest following suit at 8 p.m.

“I can remember when (future NBA player) Paul Davis’ senior year (at Rochester), we left 750 people outside, had to turn them away because there was not enough room inside,” offered John Hall, Adams’ head coach for boys basketball for 11 seasons. “I know that was often the case for many years. We needed a bigger venue.”

This is the fifth annual event for boys basketball at OU and fourth for the girls, who had their season switched from the fall to the winter in 2007-08.

The Adams boys lead the Crosstown Showdown at OU 4-0, while the Rochester girls lead 2-1, winning in 2008 and 2010. The Adams boys have won the previous three by games by double digits after winning by only two points in the inaugural meeting at OU in January, 2007.

“I think it is a contrast of two types of teams,” offered Hall of this year’s meeting. “They have a hard time stopping teams defensively and we’re having a hard time scoring. Hopefully, that will set it up for a good game.”

In similar fashion to previous years, officials are expecting close to 3,000 fans,  many that will be dressed out in event-made gear.

Adams is 6-5 on the boys side, facing 6-4 Rochester. This is the first time in many years that the two are not in the same division. The Adams boys are in fifth place in the OAA White Division, while Rochester is a co-leader in the OAA Blue Division despite an injury-plagued season.

“This is a great event. I just hope we can win for a change,” laughed Rochester coach John Pleasant, who is in his third season with the Falcons as head coach. “The concept is really cool, especially for the kids. To play in this type of atmosphere, at a college in front of that many fans, they don’t get to do this very often.”

On the girls side, 1-11 Rochester is trying to right the ship against 7-6 Adams.

“This is a great community event, no matter how each team is doing,” said veteran Adams coach Fran Scislowicz, who will miss the event because he will be enshrined into the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Lansing at the same time. Assistant coach Tom Daniels will man the troops.

“The kids can by T-shirts as their ticket and the student sections can have a lot of fun. As for the game, we have not been in the same division the last couple of years, so it’s a little bit different,” said Scislowicz. “I think with Rochester being up in the loaded (OAA) Red Division, that their record might not show it. If they were in (the OAA White), they would be in the top half of that league. I expect it will be a good game.”

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Tags: boys basketball, featured, girls basketball

Category: Editor's Column, Prep Wraps, Publishers Viewpoint, Rochester, Rochester Adams