Rochester outlasts Lake Orion in double overtime
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — During its best start in more than two decades, Rochester has enjoyed some blowout wins and some nail-biting finishes.
On Tuesday, the Falcons enjoyed the latter.
Rochester outscored visiting Lake Orion 13-7 in the second overtime session to outlast the Dragons, 73-67, in a key OAA Blue Division boys basketball contest.
Rochester made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to prevail.
“We played very good down the stretch,” said Rochester coach John Pleasant. “We went to the press a little bit to wear them down..
“It’s going to be tough winning this league,” continued Pleasant, whose team has won three close ball games in league play in the past two weeks. “We have a two-game lead. Everyone has at least two losses except us, but the wins are not easy.”
On Friday Rochester had to rally for a seven-point win over Troy Athens. Last week, the Falcons downed Farmington in a game where they led by only two points early in the fourth quarter before pulling away for a 14-point win.
UP FOR TWO: Rochester junior forward Manny Mendoza skies for this layup over Lake Orion's Brad Watterworth during Thursday's classic OAA Blue Division contest. Photo | Ken Swart, Swart Photography
Rochester (12-1, 4-0) outscored Lake Orion 15-14 in the fourth stanza to force overtime. Both teams scored just two points in the first extra session, setting the stage for the second overtime.
Lake Orion took a 62-60 lead on a dunk from Brad Watterworth top open the frame, but that was the Dragons’ last lead. Rochester went to its press to ignite a 6-0 run.
“We went to our press and kept our composure,” said Pleasant. “They took the quick lead (in the second overtime) and we went right back at them and made a little run. And we hit our free throws when it counted.”
Despite foul trouble to its leading scorer, 6-4 senior Taylor Perry was saddled with two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, Rochester led 17-11 after the first quarter and 32-23 at the half. The Falcons kept the Dragons; big men under control until the second half.
Lake Orion (8-4, 2-2) fought back with a 21-11 run in the third quarter to build a 44-43 lead heading into the final quarter of regulation. The Dragons consistently went inside to 6-5 sophomore John McCarty, 6-6 junior forward Chaz Miller and the 6-8 Brad Watterworth.
McCarty scored 18 points, Miller added 17 points and Watterworth followed with eight points and 10 rebounds for the Dragons.
“Their three-headed monster inside is tough. They have a lot of size and length,” said Pleasant. “I thought Lake Orion went to its press in the third quarter which mixed it up a little bit and they did a good job of lobbing the ball inside. We had a hard time stopping them inside.”
Paris Pereria scored a game-high 23 points to paced Rochester. Arman Camaj added 14 points and three blocked shots, Perry added 12 points and Sean McCann scored 10 to give the Falcons four players in double figures.
“I thought we did a nice job of guys stepping up. Taylor had the two early fouls and spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble,” offered Pleasant. “Then he came out and got two more in the third quarter. That hurt. Taylor is part of our press breaker and he usually can make plays breaking the press. We didn’t have him in there and Lake Orion made their run.”
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