Rocky River senior Zach Haudenschild stepped up by first scoring three straight baskets in the second quarter and then eight straight points in the third quarter to help Rocky River defeat Padua. Right: junior Joe Caruso celebrates with a Rocky River fan after the district final win. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Pirates set sail for regional tournament
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published March 15, 2006

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A season of great promise briefly interruppted by a late four game losing streak has turned into a season to remember for the Rocky River Pirates.

Rocky River senior Kyle Frohnapple opened the scoring at D-II Westlake district final with a three-pointer. There were a few tense moments, but it was a lead the Pirates never relinquished enroute to a 55-45 win over Padua. The victory sends River to their first regional tournament since 1994.

The Pirates opened the season 14-1 before a four-game losing streak brought doubts and tension to the locker room. Coach Tom Thompson challenged his seniors after that fourth loss in a row at Bay.

"He told us that if you want to be remembered if you want to get your picture in the hallway, you have to step it up," Frohnapple said. "We did step up in practice and that went into the games."

"Coach said it was our last chance and that we didn't want to go the rest of our life thinking what if," senior Scott Rea said. "Finally we pulled it out against Fairview and just kept rolling. The key was playing as a team."

Rea epitomized team by the way he handled not starting against Olmsted Falls in the district semi-finals when the coaching staff went with junior Richard Pattison's quickness to guard on the perimeter.

"It was disappointing not to start against Olmsted Falls, but I knew it was best for the team," Rea said. "I knew this was my last chance and I wanted to play hard and show them I can play."

Junior Joe Caruso said that Rea set the tone before the game even started.

"Scott stepped in practice after the Olmsted Falls game," Caruso said. "He changed the intensity of practice and got us pumped up for this game. He played unbelievably both offensively and defensively."

River led only 7-6 before ending the quarter on a 11-4 run highlighted by Caruso's buzzer beating three-pointer from well beyond the arch.

Padua's game plan was to go inside to junior Derrick Flynn. He scored six of Padua's first eight points before picking up his second foul with 1:32 left in the first quarter. In the middle of the second quarter during a timeout, the River coaching staff implored the team to take advantage of Flynn's absence. So on their next three possessions, Frohnapple found senior Zach Haudenschild three times to push the lead to 13 points before a Padua basket made the score 27-16 at the half.

Haudenschild continued to step up in the third period, he scored eight points in a row for the Pirates including two three-pointers to make the lead 41-22 with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Flynn returned the line-up in the second half, but Rea limited his effectiveness.

"Scott really stepped up in the third quarter," Thompson said. "He defended well and I was very proud of how he played well."

Padua began to pressure the Pirates and closed the quarter on a 5-0 run and then cut the lead to as low as nine at 43-34 with 4:52 left. But shortly after River finally broke the press with a dazzling display of passing as Caruso found Frohnapple who pushed it quickly to senior Chris Baltusnik who hit Rea instantly for a momentum changing lay-up. On the Pirates next possession Baltusnik found Rea again to push the lead to 47-34 allowing the River faithful to breath again.

Haudenschild lead the Pirates with 16 points. Caruso added 14.

It was a great moment for the seniors who had never won a play-off game in their careers before this season.

"It is a great way to go out, to win district your senior year after four straight years of first round losses," Rea said.

"This is awesome," Haudenschild said. Who would have ever believed we could get this far. We have worked for this since our freshman year."

"Rocky River hasn't won since 1993 so this is really big for our school," Baltusnik said.

Frohnapple, who transferred to Rocky River after three years at St. Edward, was glad to be a part of the district title team.

"This whole team accepted me. To be in this environment and community where everyone is behind you. It is a great atmosphere and school. Everyone is 100 percent behind us."

Thompson was proud of how his seniors answered his challenge after that four game losing streak.

"I told the kids it was up to them to get back to where we came from," he said. "We had a great week of practice. We played great against Fairview and that steamrolled us to where we are right now. The seniors really stepped up and it is something that they will always remember."

Thompson said the win was for more than just his team.

"This district championship is not just about our team. It is about the community and the school and every one involved. The crowd got behind us and was a big factor tonight. They were our sixth man and we were happy they came out in force"

The Pirates will take on St. Vincent-St. Mary tomorrow night at the Canton Fieldhouse. Tip time is 7 p.m. It is Rocky River’s first regional appearance since 1994.