BOYS BASKETBALL: Rochester aiming to make amends with first district title in 25 years

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

ROCHESTER HILLS — There’ rarely seems to be another month where upsets occur in the arena of sports other than March.

Rochester High found out that all-too-often trait a year ago can be a nightmare for those expecting a grand finish.

Despite a 21-game win streak, which tied a school record set back in 1988-89, the Falcons’ boys basketball team saw their stellar season come to an end last March with an upset loss to Lake Orion in a Class A district final.

Rochester, honorable mention in the Associated Press state polls at the time, finished 21-2. The Falcons were one of the favorites to reach the Class A Final Four with the way the brackets were set up.

“There’s not a day goes by that it doesn’t haunt me,” recalled Rochester coach John Pleasant, who hopes to help the Falcons win their first district title since 1988 when the postseason comes around in three months. “We had as good of a chance as anybody. It was set up for us to possibly making a long run.”

Rochester last made the Final Four in 1950 as a smaller, rural Class B school. By the early 60s, Rochester was moved up to Class A enrollment-wise. The Falcons, despite several teams ranked in the top 20 since then, have only won a couple of district crowns in the past five decades — and it’s been 24.5 years since they last played in the regional round.

The 1988 squad reached the regional finals before falling to Port Huron, 62-48. The 1988-89 squad was perhaps the school’s best team, but was upset in triple overtime by Pontiac Northern, 71-68, leaving Rochester with a 21-1 record that season.

“We hope we can change history this season,” said Pleasant. “We have a lot of the pieces to the puzzle, but we have a lot to work on.”

With one of the nation’s best players transferring over from Troy to Rochester back in August — 6-foot-6 phenom and Kentucky signee James Young — the Falcons have the star needed, plus a strong supporting cast.

Rochester is also in a Macomb County district for the first time in nearly 30 years and will be favored this time around. The favorite role hasn’t meant much in particular years for the Falcons.

Rochester does return two starters from last year’s team, including wirery 6-8 senior center Arben Carmaj and 6-3 senior defensive stopper Manny Mendoza, three-sport athlete and  Division I football recruit. Jason Lee, a 5-6 junior point guard who started some games the past two years, also has plenty of experience.

Junior sharpshooter Mike Murri (6-3) and 6-2 senior forward Johnny Corsetti are the other returnees for Rochester, which graduated eight players and three starters off last year’s team. The Falcons sent three players to the college ranks off last year’s team, including Taylor Perry to Division I Western Michigan.

Rochester does welcome a strong new group of players that will help them go after their third straight conference crown, which would be the first time the Falcons have accomplished such a feat. Rochester has been bumped up to the OAA White Division this season.

Demetrius Magee, a 6-1 junior point guard, is a defensive sparkplug, while 6-0 junior Terron Dumars, nephew of former Detroit Pistons great Joe Dumars, is one of the team’s top shooters. Senior guard Jamar Randolph is another player that should see be valuable minutes in the backcourt.

“We have some talented players. We just need to put the pieces together and gel as a team. We’re not always on the same page,” noted Pleasant. “We could be good. Last year we had a ton of experience and a lot of seniors. We expected to be very good. This year we have James and a good cast of other players. I think by the end of the season, we could be very good again. But we do have a long ways to go.”

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SCHOOL: Rochester

HEAD COACH: John Pleasant, sixth season (57-51).

2011-12 RECORD: 21-2, 10-0 OAA Blue Division.

STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Class A district finals to Lake Orion.

RETURNING STARTERS: Armen Camaj, 6-8 sr. C; Manny Medoza, 6-3 sr. F.

OTHER RETURNEES: Jason Lee, 5-6 jr.PG (started some games the past two years); Johnny Corsetti, 6-2 sr. F; Mike Murri, 6-3 jr. G/F;

KEY NEWCOMERS: James Young, 6-7 sr. G/F (transfer from Troy; signed with Kentucky; Mr. Basketball favorite; top-10 national prospect); Demetrius Magee, 6-1 jr.PG; Terron Dumars, 6-0 jr. SG (nephew of former Pistons great Joe Dumars); Q France, 6-1 sr. F (transfer from Rochester Adams).

KEY LOSSES: Graduated eight players; Taylor Perry, 6-4 F(All-State, All-Area First Team); Western Michigan); Paris Pereira, 5-8 PG (Rochester College); Mike Klotz, 6-1 SG; Kurt Apostal, 6-2 C; Sean McCann, 6-0 G.

OUTLOOK: The Falcons tied a school record with 21 straight wins last season and won their second straight league title for the first time since the late 1980s. Rochester was stunned by Lake Orion in the district finals despite being favored to make a deep run in the tournament. This year’s team has several key components and will remain relevant with the arrival of Young, who moved to Rochester Hills this summer and became immediately eligible. If this team gels, it could win its first district since 1988.

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