CRUISE CONTROL: Rockets Overwhelm Cougars
RAPID RIVER---The Rapid River Rockets shook off a sluggish start and cruised to a 53-34 win over the Superior Central Cougars in high school boys basketball action Friday night in Rapid River.
The Rockets improved to 5-2 on the season, while the Cougars fell to 1-7.
The first quarter started slow, however, as the Rockets turned the ball over several times and it was a 4-4 tie three minutes into the game.
But Rapid River got it going over the next three minutes, going on an 11-0 run with the defense forcing two turnovers that led to a pair of Tyler Sundling fast-break baskets. Sundling and Tony DeMars also hooked up twice, with each finding the other with passes in the paint. And Sundling executed a base-line inbound play to DeMars.
Rapid River led, 15-7, after the first quarter, and 30-14 at halftime.
"We had a couple different rotations in there," Rapid River Coach Mitchell Hall said. "We started off a little bit slow, but our defense is really what brought us through. That's what dictates the game, got us in our rythym, and we were able to transition really well, and get some points and a little bit of a lead."
The second half saw the Rockets lead by as many as 22 points as Hall substitued freely against the overmatched and shorthanded Cougars.
"That's really important to me." Hall said. "These guys bust their butts every day in practice. They all deserve opportunities, so when you get a little bit of a lead like that, it is nice, even if they get a small window, to see what they can do. And I didn't think we lost much of a step when they were out there tonight."
Parker Maki led Superior Central with eleven points, with a pair of triples, while Mikey Rondeau added eight points and Jeremy Koski scored five.
Sundling scored 14 points in limited action to lead all scorers. He made six of the eleven shots he toop, including two triples. Braydon Moss also had two triples and scored eight points. Griffin Flath also chipped in eight points and DeMars contributed seven.
Rapid River has a big game on Monday in Powers against North Central. The game will be broadcast live starting at 7:15 ET on WUPF-FM (Eagle 107.3) and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Friday night's game. Also click to hear post-game comments from Rockets Coach Mitchell Hall.
