BOYS BASKETBALL: Rochester advances to Sweet 16 for first time since 1988
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The last time Rochester made an appearance in the Sweet 16, it was a quarter century ago. The unranked Falcons are finally making a return trip to that stage this season.
Rochester dominated on both ends of the floor Monday in its Class A regional semifinal at West Bloomfield and cruised past Romeo, 59-43, to advance to the regional finals for the first time since 1988.
The Falcons failed to get past the regional finals that season 25 years ago, eventually falling to Port Huron, 62-48. Rochester (20-4) had not won a district since that season until this year.
Rochester’s zone defense, size and length proved to be a venomous poison against the upset-minded Bulldogs. The Falcons forced 12 turnovers but rarely allowed Romeo to gain a second chance off the boards, outrebounding the Bulldogs by a commanding 37-22 margin.
Rochester’s twin towers, 6-foot-7 senior guard James Young and 6-8 senior center Arben Camaj wreaked havoc all night on the Bulldogs. Young finished with 24 points, making 11 of 14 free throws, to go along with 10 rebounds and three assists, while Camaj added 18 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Falcons, who never trailed in the contest.
YOU’VE BEEN … THUNDERSTRUCK: Rochester’s Arben Camaj throws down this dunk during the Falcons’ 59-43 victory Tuesday over Romeo in a Class A regional semifinal.Courtesy Photo | Ken Swart, Swart Photography
Rochester held Romeo (13-10) to a dismal 15-for-50 shooting performance (30 percent) and only six second-half field goals.
The Bulldogs were coming off back-to-back upset wins, including state powerhouse Clarkston in the district semifinals (52-48) and fifth-ranked and previously-unbeaten Rochester Adams (53-52) in the district finals on Friday.
“We thought we’d have to zone them. In our district final win (against Sterling Heights Stevenson on Friday), it was probably the best defense we’ve played in a long time,” said Rochester coach John Pleasant. “We didn’t think we could play man-to-man with (Romeo junior sharpshooter Drew Cushingberry). We didn’t think we had the personnel to guard him. But we used our size to our advantage.”
Rochester led 16-13 after the first quarter and 29-24 at the half, allowing only nine rebounds in the first half. Camaj was big reason for that, as he consistently cleaned up the glass and kept the Bulldogs honest when driving to the basket.
“Arben has been huge down the stretch,” said Pleasant. “Having James on the team, he probably hasn’t gotten the credit he’s deserved. He’s been huge all year and tonight was no different. I think when James missed those four games at the end of the season, Arben really picked it up.”
Camaj already owns a performance that included 33 points and 18 rebounds two weeks ago against Oak Park and is averaging a double-double and five blocks a contest for Rochester.
“I felt that when James was out, I really needed to step up,” smiled Camaj. “We haven’t done anything like this in this era (of Rochester basketball), so we have to do what it takes to win.”
Romeo closed to within 25-24 late in the second quarter on a bucket by Cushingberry, before Rochester answered with a 4-0 run to end the second frame. The Falcons continued the run with a 7-0 spurt to open the third stanza, which built a 36-24 lead with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
Romeo never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way. Rochester built its lead up to as many as 18 points twice in the second half, including a steal and jumper from Young that gave the Falcons a 51-33 advantage with 4:35 left in the game.
The Falcons called off the dogs shortly after that point.
“Coach always talks about coming out in the third quarter and go (on a 6-0 run),” said Young. “We were able to do that. Whenever we come out and play strong in the third quarter, we can win games.”
Romeo did not have a player over 6-3 enter the game. The Bulldogs tried to get physical on Rochester but it far from paid off.
“We knew their (size) would be a problem, so we wanted to play physical on them,” said Romeo coach Dave Teller. “We’re not very tall but we’re wide. But we let them have their way, especially in the physicality of it all. We could not stop them and we couldn’t get a rebound.”
The 6-2 Cushingberry led Romeo with 23 points and seven rebounds. He scored 10 of his team’s 24 first-half points and 13 of his team’s 19 second-half points.
Junior center Blake Williams added six points and junior forward Adam Davis scored five with three assists for Romeo.
Senior forward Manny Mendoza added seven points and four rebounds, while junior forward Mike Murri added six points, four rebounds and two steals and junior point guard Jason Lee added four points and five assists for Rochester.
Rochester will play Bloomfield Hills Lahser, 70-61 winners over Troy Athens in Monday’s other regional semifinal, in the regional finals on Wednesday at 7 p.m., also at West Bloomfield. The Falcons are going after just their third regional title in school history and first since 1950, that coming as a Class B school.
The Falcons defeated Lahser 64-54 last month in a non-league game. Rochester last played Lahser in the postseason — ironically — in 1988.
“They’re tough,” said Pleasant of Lahser. “Their big fellow (Yante Maten) is very tough. They’ve got two good guards and some length like we do. It was a dog fight and I don’t anticipate anything different this time.”
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 BASKETBALL 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.
Category: Featured Articles, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, Prep Wraps, Top Stories, Uncategorized
