01/08/10 - Mendota

January 11, 2010

VIEW GAME PHOTOS By Josie Anderson

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1/08/10 – Rock Falls 73 Mendota 55

Rockets roll over Mendota Trojans

By Bob Martin

Mendota 11 13 17 14 55

Rock Falls 19 24 20 10 73

After being out-hustled and out-worked by a talented IVC team on Tuesday, the Rockets clearly got the message and showed up this night ready to play. Rock Falls (9-7, 2-2) played an up tempo ¾ court zone press combined with a half court zone defense the entire game and kept Mendota (3-13, 2-4) generally on their heels. This hustle on defense was then translated into a running game allowing the Rockets to score often in transition, a factor that has been missing in most of their games this season and which put the word “Running” back in the “Rockets”. Unlike the Spring Valley Hall game in which the Rockets were clear favorites but allowed the less talented team to stick around, this was not the case against Mendota.

Rock Falls also achieved a balanced attack with 5 players in double figures; Matt Lauts – 18 points, Jake Junis – 12, Brett Chappell – 12, Tevin Rumley – 11, and Dylan Austin – 10. With the hustle defense the Rockets were able to turn over the Trojans 21 times with the Rockets also achieving a balance between their entire rotation with steals, assists, deflections and blocked shots.

The Rockets jumped in front 9-0 (5:12) making 5 of 6 free throws, another welcomed change (they made 12 of 15 on the night reversing a streak of bad performances from the charity stripe), and also scored on an Austin drive and Lauts putback. The first quarter pace was fast and each team was guilty of sloppy ball handling, as both recorded 7 turnovers. Other Rocket scoring plays included; a Lauts putback, a Rumley fast break layup (assist Austin), an Austin drive, a JC McNinch layup (assist Junis) and 2 free throws by Lauts.

In the 2^nd quarter the Rockets were a scoring juggernaut, tallying 24 points on the strength of 8 Mendota turnovers. The Rockets methodically built on their lead throughout the stanza and entered halftime with a 19 point margin (43-24). Scoring plays were: Lauts on a layup (assist Junis), Rumley an 8’ runner on a fast break, Lauts layup, Shay Brown layup, Lauts layup (assist McNinch), Austin on a fast break layup (assist McNinch), Lauts with a post move (assist Junis), 2 free throws by Gordo Barron, a Junis putback, and Junis 3 pointer (assist Barron), a Rumley drive, and one free throw by Rumley. The Junis 3 pointer was the only one of the half as the Rockets were pounding the paint and had great success with these higher percentage shots.

Rock Falls put Mendota away by opening the 3^rd quarter with an 11-3 run and achieved a 27 point margin (4:35), the largest of the game. Both teams handled the ball better in this period and outside shooters found the range. Rocket scoring was as follows; 3 pointer by Chappel, 5’ runner by Brown, 10’ jumper by Junis, 8’ jumper by Rumley, fast break layup by Austin (assist Rumley), 5’ turnaround jump shot by Junis, layup by Lauts (assist Barron), 3 pointer by Chappel (assist Lauts), and 2 free throws by Austin. Rock Falls led by 22 entering the last quarter.

The 4^th quarter allowed the Rockets to play their entire roster and Mendota was able to score the last 8 points of the contest to make the margin of defeat look more respectable from their perspective. Rocket scorers were; Rumley on a tip-in (assist Junis on an inbound pass), a 3 pointer by Chappel (assist Brown), a putback by Junis, and a 3 pointer by Chappell (assist Andrew Leuschke).

Now the question is, can the Rockets maintain this level of energy against a more formidable opponent? Show up tonight at the Rock Fall’s Shootout to get the early answer.

Preliminary Game: The Meteors outscored Mendota in each quarter and looked good while posting a solid 65-51 victory.

Rocket Scorers:

Matt Lauts 18

Jake Junis 12

Brett Chappell 12

Tevin Rumley 11

Dylan Austin 10

Shay Brown 6

JC McNinch 2

Gordo Barron 2

Next Up:

Jan 9 at 8:30 pm: Seneca at home in the Rock Falls Shootout