Seniors lead Rochester’s victory over Detroit Cody

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

BEVERLY HILLS — Experience can carry a team long ways in sports. It has been a major factor for Rochester this winter on the basketball court.

After a horrendous first-half Monday, where Rochester shot a dismal 3-for-20 from the floor, the Falcons regrouped to down Detroit Cody, 48-44, in the Motor City Roundball Classic at Birmingham Detroit Country Day Sigh School.

ROOM WITH NO VIEW: Rochester's Mike Klotz guards Detroit Cody's Nyrell Brown during Monday's game in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Klotz and the Falcons forced 23 turnovers in a 48-44 win. Photo | Dan Stickradt

It was the Falcons’ seniors that saved the day, as the trio of Western Michigan-bound Taylor Perry and point guards Paris Pereira and Mike Klotz spearheaded the second-half surge Monday. The trio combined for 36 of the team’s 48 points and provided plenty of key plays down the stretch in the Falcons’ rare win over a Detroit PSL school.

“I think it was our seniors that led us again,” praised Rochester coach John Pleasant. “Those guys, Taylor, Paris and Mike Klotz have stepped up to become the leaders of this team. They all have plenty of experience, with Taylor and Paris being with us for four years. They came through for us again.”

It marked Rochester’s first appearance in the 17^th annual Roundball Classic and the Falcons did not waste the opportunity.

“Playing teams like this will helped us later in the season,” admitted Pleasant. “We don’t see a lot of teams like this in the OAA. Cody is a very good defensive team and very quick. They really make you work. Their press caused us some problems.

“I think the press was really a double-edged sword for both teams,” continued Pleasant. “It forced some turnovers and led to some easy basketball for us and it led to some easy points for Cody. The press let them close it down to under five points in the last few minutes.”

The Falcons (3-1), who have won three straight, blocked out their first-half performance and the loud thuds of bass with local DJs spinning tunes throughout the contest, to outscore Cody 32-28 in the second half. Rochester was 9-for-20 from the floor in the second half (45 percent) after converting only 15 percent of its field goal attempts throughout the first 16 minutes.

The slow start and loud gym did not affect the Falcons’ play.

CRUISE CONTROL: Rochester's Taylor Perry races the ball up court during the Falcons' victory over Detroit Cody. Photo | Dan Stickradt

“It’s a kind of cool playing in a showcase like this,” said the 6-foot-4 Perry, who finished 19 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists and his alley-oop dunk off a Klotz feed was part of the Falcons’ 9-0 run over the final 1:25 of the third quarter and first 1:26 of the fourth frame. “We played better (in the second half). We just blocked out all of the noise and distractions.”

Pereira scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime and Klotz scored just three points but dished out six assists for Rochester. Pereira was just 1-for-8 from the floor in the first half.

Arman Camaj added seven points and three blocked shots, while transfer Manny Mendoza contributed five points and six rebounds for Rochester, which committed 17 turnovers.

The Falcons, who were missing three players for various reasons, overcame some tired legs at the end to hold off the Comets’ surge in the last five minutes.

Rochester had battled back to tie the game at 16-16 at the half and held a 35-29 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Falcons opened up their biggest lead at 40-29 with 6:34 left to play on a three-pointer from Pereira. Cody responded with a 6-0 run to close to within 40-35 with 3:22 left

Rochester, which recovered to shoot 12-for-40 from the floor and 20-for-31 from the foul line, still held off the Comets’ comeback despite turning the ball over five times in the fourth quarter and sinking just 6-of-16 free throws in the final 3:17.

Christian Oliver scored 15 points with 11 rebounds for Cody (2-3), which held a 33-25 rebounding edge. The Comets finished 19-for 55 from the floor (34.6 percent) but turned the ball over 23 times in the contest.

Amou Kyalangalilwia added seven points and five rebounds for Cody, which closed with a 9-4 run to make the final differential only four points.

After Perry opened the game with a three-pointer, Detroit Cody responded with 9-0 run and eventually led 12-9 after the first quarter. Rochester outscored the Comets 7-4 in the second quarter to tie the game at 16-16 at the half.

“I didn’t like the way we played in the first quarter,” recalled Pleasant. “We gave up nine points in about a two-minute span. But we settled down after that point. We made a nice run to tie them at the half even though our shots weren’t falling. I thought we played much better defense in the second quarter on and we started to knock down some shots in the second half.

“I think not having everyone hurt us a little at the end. We looked a little tired,” added Pleasant. “Paris never came out and Taylor sat only about a minute and a half and Klotz sat out briefly, too. But we still have to make free throws. That’s no excuse. In a tighter game, all of those misses from the free throw line could cost us.”

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.

FOR MORE BASKETB ALL COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Basketball&x=13&y=12
* Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.

(To report varsity results, e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com or dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com )

Tags: Basketball, boys basketball, Detroit Cody Boys Basketball, featured, high school boys basketball, motor city roundball classic, prep boys basketball, Rochester Boys Basketball

Category: Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester