BOYS BASKETBALL: Romeo stuns previously-unbeaten Rochester Adams for district crown
LAKE ORION — After stunning perennial state powerhouse Clarkston on Wednesday night, upstart Romeo continued to make headlines again Friday in the Class A boys basketball state tournament.
The unranked bulldogs won for the 13th time in 14 games after a 2-6 start, this time knocking off previously-unbeaten Rochester, Adams, 53-52, in the Class A district finals at Lake Orion High School.
Adams was ranked fifth in the Associated Press polls — the highest-ever ranking for the program in school history.
Romeo (15-7) held off a furious Adams comeback and forced the Highlanders into an off-balance shot in the waning seconds to complete the upset. The Bulldogs will face Rochester (19-4) in the regional semifinals Monday at West Bloomfield.
Adams finishes the season with a 21-1 record, the most wins and first perfect regular season in school history. Adams opened in 1969-70.
Adams led 12-6 after the first quarter, only to see Romeo stage a 19-8 rally in the second quarter for a 25-20 halftime lead.
Romeo kept the Highlanders at bay in the third quarter with a 17-16 run for a 42-36 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
THE CLASH: Rochester Adams’ Jack Twitty goes for the steal from Romeo’s Brad Cushingberry during Friday’s Class A district finals. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com, lmckeephotography@comcast.net
Adam Davis scored 18 and Drew Cushingberry added 17 points for Romeo, which finished a crisp 18-for-21 from the foul line. Zachary Rizo followed with six points for the Bulldogs, who had only six players score points.
Adams, which was missing two players to injury, was paced by Zack Litleson’s 13 points. Ben Limb added 12 points and both Akhemji Williams and Drew McBride chipped in with nine points apiece for the Highlanders, who finished 13-for-15 from the charity stripe.
Category: Featured Articles, High School, Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams
