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The
Northern Viking fans called him overrated all game,
but their was nothing overrated about Joe Rocca's 19
points, including nine free throws in the fourth
quarter, as the St. Christopher Cyclones defeated
the Northern Vikings 55-46 in the LSSAA senior boys
basketball finals Saturday night.
"We had to
keep our composure," said Rocca after the game.
"That was our thing coming into the game, and that
is why we won."
With a jam
packed home court at St. Christopher's, the Cyclones
composure got them passed the first quarter and on
to victory, as the Cyclones trailed by 1 point after
the first quarter.
Alex
Decarolis got the game started for the Cyclones with
an opening lay in for two, but the Vikings came back
with their first lead, as Justin Zonneville dialled
in from the three point line, giving the Vikings the
3-2 lead. The Cyclones though would get assistance
from their big man Martin Popiel, who pulled down
reboards and put them back up for six points in the
first quarter.
The
Vikings seemed to try for the three pointers early
on. Jon Ravenhorst would hit the Vikings second
three to tie the game at 6-6. But after a Popiel put
back and an Eric McDonald jumper for two, the
Cyclones took the early 10-6 lead. But Ravenhorst
would set up Tom Dowding for the easy lay in and
then pull up himself as time expired on the
quarter to nail the clutch three pointer as the
Vikings took the 11-10 lead after the first.
But the
one point lead by Northern didn't bother Cyclones
coach Dan Ellsley. "Having some older kids, we had
the maturity, we had the experience to keep the
wheels on the cart."
In the
second quarter the wheels were in full motion.
Northern opened the second with a Carter Winberg lay
in, but mid quarter the Cyclones would take over,
lead by Rocca, who nailed a deep three pointer and
put home an easy lay in after brother Mike Rocca
made a beautiful behind the back pass, as Joe Rocca
gets seven points in the quarter.
Popiel
added another below the rim point, while McDonald
and Decarolis added two each on lay ins and Mike
Rocca two on free throws as the Cyclones went on a
14-0 run in the second quarter, holding the Vikings
to just four points, as the Cyclones took a 25-15
lead into half time.
Coming out
in the second half Zac Lippiatt added a lay in to
increase the lead, but Ravenhorst would come back
with a clutch three pointer, and Reda Souala with a
steal and put in to get the Vikings back into it.
Rocca would hit a jumper for two, but Ravenhorst
would again nail a three pointer to close the gap
down to just five.
To answer
back, Mike Rocca would hit his own three pointer,
but Tom Dowding would add four more in the quarter
to bring it back to just a three point game heading
into the final quarter.
Zonneville
would pick up a missed shot and put it back in for
two to make it a one point game, but Joe Rocca would
put in three free throws to re-establish the two
score game. Popiel would add another rebound put
back to make it a six point game, but Winberg would
score four for the Vikings to cut the lead back down
to two.
Popiel
again with another put back for his two of his
fourteen points, while McDonald drives the lane and
puts in two to give the Cyclones a four point lead.
After Popiel hit his final two free throws before
fouling out of the game, the Vikings got into foul
trouble, sending the Cyclones to the line on every
foul.
And with
the ball in the hands of Joe Rocca, Mr. Overrated
became Mr. Clutch, knocking down seven free throws
for the Cyclones. McDonald would also chip in four
free throw as well, as the Cyclones go on a 15-0 run
late in the fourth quarter.
Zonneville
would hit a three pointer for the Vikings, but Rocca
would ice it once more with another free throw and
watch the clock run out as the Cyclones defeat the
Vikings 55-46.
"It just
feels unbelievable," says Rocca after the game. "We
worked so hard the whole year and it final pays off.
I credit Northern, they are an unbelievable team, so
well coached, and they got some great pieces".
The
Cyclone defence was able to hold the Vikings, who
put up 93 points against St. Clair in the semi-final
game, to just 46 points in the finals.
"We were
going to try and keep them out of the paint, make
sure they couldn't penetrate on us," says coach
Ellsley. "We knew they were going to hit some
[shots], they are fantastic shooters, and we are
lucky they didn't hit as many as they normally
would.
Ellsley
stressed to his players to keep their head in the
emotional game, espesically with the crowd as alive
as it was. "We stressed all week to keep your head,
there is going to be a lot of emotion, a lot of
pressure, just make sure you keep your composure,
keep your head right on your shoulders and don't do
anything stupid."
The
Cyclones will now move on to SWOSSA
.
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