Crosstown Showcase: Rochester follows seniors’ lead in rout of Adams

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Perhaps Taylor Perry and Paris Pereira are taking matters into their own hands.

The unquestionable leaders of Rochester’s boys basketball team have led the Falcons to eight straight wins following a season-opening loss to state-ranked Detroit Loyola. The duo was back at it again Friday in the sixth-annual Crosstown Showdown at Oakland University.

Perry scored a game-high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists and Pereira added 16 points for the Falcons in a 62-35 OAA crossover victory over chief rival Rochester Adams.

It marked Rochester’s third straight win over Adams, including a 56-41 victory over the Highlanders last month and in last year’s event at OU.

Perry, a 6-foot-4 wing who is headed to Western Michigan, scored 17 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting to help Rochester (8-1) open up a 12-point halftime lead. Pereira, a fourth-year point guard who was held to just a single free throw in the first half, scored all 11 of the Falcons’ 11-2 run to open the third quarter.

DRIVING FORCE: Rochester senior guard Paris Pereria was key in the Falcons' 62-35 victroy over Rochester Adams Friday night at the Crosstown Showdown at Oakland University. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

By the end of the run, Rochester opened a 42-19 lead with 5:09 left in the third stanza. Adams (4-4) could not trim the deficit down to under 18 points the rest of the way.

“I wasn’t worried going into the half,” said Pereira. “I think I had one point at halftime, but it was no problem for me. Taylor was carrying us and he was hot, so why not feed the hot hand? He does the same thing for me when I get on a roll. We (also) just went out and (played) tough defense (too). We won, and that’s all that matters.”

Rochester shot an efficient 23-for-42 for the night (56 percent), converted 10-of-17 free throws, made 4-of-10 three-pointers and outscored the Highlanders in all four periods.

The Falcons also held a 29-26 edge on the boards and recorded 16 assists on 23 made baskets.

“The whole year they’ve led us,” said Rochester coach John Pleasant of his two fourth-year, experienced leaders. “Our role players are really buying into what they are supposed to be doing. We rode Taylor in the first half when he was (8-of-10) and Paris in the second half. They deserve it. They’re great kids and they’ve worked hard.”

UP FOR TWO: Rochester Adams sophomore guard Akhemji Williams poured in two of his 19 points, but no other teammates scored in double figures for the Highlanders. Photo | Larry McKee , www.lmckeephotography.com

The Falcons trailed only twice in the contest, 2-0 and 5-3, during the opening two minutes. Rochester led 14-11 by the end of the third quarter and 31-19 at the break.

“We talked at halftime when it was a (12) point lead that we had to stop the 6-0 run because it’s a game of runs,” offered Pleasant. “If they had gone on a 6-0 run instead of us for the 18-point lead and vise-versa. When it’s 18 (points), the game’s not over, but the pressure is different (on the other team) when it’s 18 points compared to six points.”

Rochester outscored Adams 13-7 in the third quarter and 31-16 for the entire second half.

Arben Camaj, Rochester’s 6-7 junior center, supplied seven points, three blocked shots, three assists and three steals, while rugged interior players Manny Mendoza and Kurt Apostol combined for eight points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Mike Klotz drilled a pair of three-pointers for six points and was another steady hand shouldering ball-handling duties for the Falcons.

Sophomore Akhemji Williams scored 19 points for Adams on 9-of-17 shooting to go along with a free throw. The Highlanders didn’t have another player score more than four points.

“I thought the first half, I really thought that we didn’t play that poorly,” admitted Adams coach John Hall. “I thought we defended pretty well and that Taylor Perry made four or five really tough shots that we defended pretty good. He stepped up and had a great game. We made some adjustments on him and he doesn’t score except for a couple of buckets in transition off of our turnovers. But then Paris steps up and scores like he did, so they just traded roles.

“Those are just two seniors that are battle-tested. They’ve been through the ringer and responded really well in both games against us,” added Hall.

Adams was held to a dismal 16-for-51 shooting from the floor (31.4 percent), including 1-for-12 from outside the 3-point arc, and only connected on 2-of-9 free throws. They couldn’t match up with Rochester’s senior-laden squad.

“They have two really good players that are experienced and they have role players that have bought in and have accepted and thrived within their role,” said Hall. “That’s what this game is all about. (Rochester) plays really well together.

“We are just pretty young and we’re playing some young kids at some pretty critical. spots. That’s the contrast of the two teams,” continued Hall. “The guys that are at the focal point of everything that (Rochester does) are seasoned, very well-disciplined players that know exactly what is going on. Our players are still young. We’ve got sophomores and inexperienced juniors that are in that role and they don’t quite know how to do it yet. When you get into a game like tonight when they’re making shots and we’re missing (shots), the game got away from us.”

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