Ball boy becomes a legend
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published March 8, 2006

Click here for an archive of West Life Sports Editor Zachary Dzurick's "Red Right 88" weekly columns.

WEB EXCLUSIVE
The last time Rocky River defeated Olmsted Falls in basketball was in the first of three match-ups in the 1998-99 season. Part of that team was a fourth grade ball boy, while he remembers the win, the more vivid memory is three heart-breaking district final losses his brother's Pirate teams had to Olmsted Falls.

Now a junior point guard Joe Caruso, the WSC's MVP, spent the days leading up to Tuesday's district final looking through the old scrapbooks preparing himself for battle.

"I watched those games as a young kid. I know how intense they were," Caruso said. "All week at my house, it has been how I have to step it up. This is the big game. I practiced real hard to do what I had to do. I have grown up watching these guys dominate us. I just wanted one time to get them back"

For while there was a definite pattern to the game. Rocky River would burst out to lead, then Olmsted Falls led by SWC MVP Tyler Sparks would steadily work their way back into the game and the lead.

Rocky River led by eight at the end of the first quarter, Olmsted Falls answered to close the gap, but again Rocky River pushed the lead back out to eight at 30-22. However Falls closed the half on a 11-2 run to make the score 33-32 at the half.

Joe Caruso (WEST LIFE file photo)

Rocky River has struggled coming out of the gate after the half at times this year. Caruso made sure not to let it happen. He started the quarter with a three pointer, then before the crowd could finish cheering he stole the ball and made a lay-up. On the next possession he added a free throw and then senior teammate Zach Haudenschild buried a three to make 41-33, just like that.

Falls regrouped after a timeout and by the end of the third quarter the game was tied at 44. With 5:13 left, Sparks seemed too strong inside as his basket made it 50-46. The game seemed to be slipping away for the Pirates and they called timeout.

"During the timeout, we talked about how this could be it for the seniors and we needed a perfect quarter," Caruso said. "I wanted to extend their careers. Those seniors are tremendous players. I am friends with all of them. I just wanted to play with them at least one more game and I wanted to prove we were worthy of winning this district."

What followed will be remembered in Rocky River for as long as they play basketball.

Out of the timeout, Caruso buried a three, his sixth of the game, but first points of the fourth quarter. After a Kyle Frohnapple free throw for River tied the game, Falls senior Clay Lawrence made a great cut to the basket to give the lead back to the Bulldogs with just under three minutes to play.

Frohnapple got the ball to Caruso who gave the Pirates the lead with a huge three-pointer. Again with the River crowd still in a frenzy, Caruso stole the ball and made a lay-up to put the Pirates up 55-52.

Sparks answered with his own three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 55-55. The Westlake gym was ready to pop its roof off. After a Falls timeout, Caruso hit another three to get the lead back and then forced a turnover on the other side, instead of pulling the ball out, he attacked the rim and was fouled. He made one to put the lead at 59-55. Again on the next possession, Caruso forced another turnover. He was got the ball back and was fouled with 33 seconds left. He would close the game by making five of six three throws and Haudenschild added a pair for the final score of 66-55.

While Sparks proved his MVP status with 20 points and a dominating performance on the offensive boards. Joe Caruso became a mythical figure in Rocky River lore with 17 fourth quarter points (14 in the last three minutes) and 37 for the game. He made eight three-pointers and was a disruptive force on defense as well.

“I have been playing against Sparks for a long time,” Caruso said. “He is a great player. His three really pumped them up. I knew I had to step up. I was hitting my shots, but my teammates stepped up around me and it was a total team effort to win this game.”

Thompson’s smile could not conceal his excitement.

“We had a rough stretch with that four game losing streak,” Thompson said. “We started to question and doubt. We just got right back on track at the right time. I am very proud of how the kids responded to everything they thrown at them.”

One reason Caruso was put in a position for his heroics was a gutsy change in the starting line-up by starting junior Richard Pattison over senior Scott Rea. Pattison’s athleticism allowed him to guard Olmsted Falls junior Dave Pellerite and at times Sparks on the perimeter. Rea rather than sulk came off the bench to play hard as well.

“We felt there was a match-up we concerned about with Pellerite,” Thompson said. “We did use Scott Rea and I thought Scott did a good job. Scott was forced to play a kid on the perimeter and that is a tough thing to ask from him. Pellerite is so long and tall so we felt we had to go with Richard.”

Besides the defense, Pattison provided some offensive punch early as well as he scored eight first half points.

After the Pirates quick start in the third quarter, momentum changed when Olmsted Falls went to a half-court trap.

“That trap took us out of what we wanted to do,” Thompson said. “Finally we were able to have Joe follow us out of the back side. We got some skip passes to him and he knocked down some shots. Joe was unbelievable. He took it upon himself to win the basketball game. Our players respect him as a person and a leader. he is always positive when he started hitting those shots they just kept going to him.”

Thompson said the win was the result of an off-season of work.

“I am thrilled for the kids,” he said. “These are the things when you look back as a player. You look at the camps, summer leagues and everything you do in the weight room- games like this our the payoff. When you have the difficulty like we have had against them, you measure your program against teams like that. You measure your success of what you are trying to accomplish against what they have done.”

Rocky River will play the winner of tonight’s Bay-Padua game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.