BOYS BASKETBALL: Fast start propels Stoney Creek past Rochester in Crosstown Showdown debut
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
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ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Stoney Creek made the most of its first-ever appearance in the Crosstown Showdown.
The Cougars, in their 16th school year of existence, used a 25-7 run to start Friday’s game, then closed with an 18-4 fourth-quarter blitz to upend rival Rochester 67-45 in an OAA White Division victory at Oakland University’s O’rena.
In the previous 12 games of the annual event, which started in January of 2007, Rochester and Rochester Adams squared off at OU. Now the three schools will rotate with Adams missing this year and Rochester sitting out next year.
Rochester Stoney Creek sophomore guard Trevor Smith puts up this shot over Rochester junior guard Kalif Murray during Friday’s Crosstown Showdown at Oakland University. Photo | Ken Swart, Swart Photography
“It’s such a great community event where everyone comes together,” offered Stoney Creek coach Steve Norgrove. “I’ve been here because my daughters have played in this (for Rochester) the past several years. It’s nice to be on the other side of this (as a coach). We’re glad to finally be a part of it.”
Stoney Creek trailed just once, when Rochester 6-foot-3 senior forward Ryan Noble scored on a layup just 41 seconds into the game. Stoney Creek 6-6 senior forward Patrick Ghaly countered with two free throws to kickstart a 9-2 run and the Cougars (5-6, 2-3) never trailed again.
After Rochester 6-4 senior forward Corey Gulledge drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to trim the deficit down to 9-5, Stoney Creek went on a 16-2 run over the final 3:23 of the first period — the Cougars drained four 3-pointers in the run — to open up a 25-7 lead at the end of the first frame.
“We always try to attack the basket, regardless of who is in there (for the other team). We did a good job of that and that opened it up a little bit on the perimeter for us,” said Norgrove. “And I really like our energy (in the first and fourth quarters). We had some kids come off the bench with a ton of energy and really gave us a nice lift. We shared the basketball and got a lot of kids involved.”
Rochester (1-11, 1-6) outscored Stoney Creek 17-14 in the second quarter despite the Cougars leading 34-12 at the 4:21 mark of the frame and 39-24 entering the half.
Rochester, despite missing 6-6 senior center Cameron Caggins and freshman point guard Jeff Hawkins, expended a ton of energy with a 15-8 third quarter, including cutting the deficit down to 43-39 following another triple from Gulledge with 1:53 remaining in the third stanza.
Stoney Creek scored four quick points to end the third period for a 47-39 lead, then poured on another 16-2 run to start the fourth to put the game away.
Stoney Creek, which has four sophomores in its rotation, was paced by sophomore Trevor Smith’s 13 points, eight assists and three boards. Senior guard Marshall Emerson added 12 points and three steals, Ghaly and sophomore guard Zach Jones scored eight apiece, while junior forward Jack Roehrig followed with seven points for the Cougars.
Rochester senior forward Corey Gulledge splits Rochestr Stoney Creek defenders Lance Fogelberg (No. 14) and Alex Reiter (No. 11) during Friday’s OAA White Division clash. Photo | Ken Swart, Swart Photography
Stoney Creek finished with 15 assists on 23 made baskets and had 11 of 13 players reach the scoring column. The Cougars also finished the night shooting 54.8 percent shooting from the floor (23-for-42) and converted 15-of-26 shots from the charity stripe.
Rochester missed the services of two of its better players and committed 20 turnovers, including seven in the first quarter alone if falling into an early 18-point hole.
“I think missing Cameron hurt. He’s our leading scorer, our leading rebounder and our leading shot blocker, and so we had to have players (play) in different roles,” said second-year Rochester coach Vance Kirkwood. “We also missed our freshman guard and he’s one of our better ball-handlers and shooters. We’re normally not that deep with our rotation and having two players out definitely hurt. That and we didn’t execute very well at times, had a lot of turnovers.
“We did a nice job coming back on them (in the third quarter), but I think we got a little tired in the fourth quarter,” continued Kirkwood.
Gulledge connected on his first five three-pointers and finished 8-of-13 from the floor for a game-high 21 points for the Falcons, who graduated nearly 50 points a game from a league-championship squad. He added four assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots for good measure for Rochester.
Noble added 12 points and five rebounds for the Falcons, although no other Rochester player scored more than four points.
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