Boys basketball: Streetsboro can't miss in win over Cloverleaf

WESTFIELD TWP. — Streetsboro must have stored all its points for a Metro Athletic Conference matchup with Cloverleaf on Wednesday. After scoring 16 points in their non-league loss to Hudson on Friday, the Rockets couldn't miss and knocked off the Colts 78-51. The 78 points were a season high for Streetsboro, eclipsing a 73-55 victory against Ravenna. The defending MAC champion Rockets (5-7, 3-4) were particularly deadly from behind the 3-point line, making 10-of-18 from long range (.556) and 29-of-49 overall (.592) before the fourth quarter saw both coaches go deep into their benches. "We knew that they had a rough game last time out," said Cloverleaf guard Isaac Smith, who led the Colts with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. "We didn't expect them to shoot lights out like they did." Seven Rockets made at least one trifecta, with P.J. Robinson (19 points) leading the way with three. Cloverleaf (4-5, 2-5) kept the frenetic pace set by the Rockets as an electric first quarter ended with Streetsboro in front 25-22. The Colts had good ball movement and did a good job handling the relentless pressure from Streetsboro, assisting on six of their nine field goals and going 3-of-7 from behind the 3-point line. From there, the Rockets kept bombing away, but the Colts struggled to keep possession. The halftime deficit was still manageable at 45-35 before the wheels came off for Cloverleaf in a rough third quarter. "It was just a rough game for us," said post Owen Brownson, who had nine points and three rebounds. "They had a few rough games and we came in thinking that we could have something like that. We came out strong, but once they settled in, we started to play badly." The Rocket started the second half with an 11-0 run and forced six Colts turnovers. On its first seven possessions, Cloverleaf managed just one shot attempt. "They were pressing us well and jumping over screens," Brownson said. "We panicked every time they got up on us and we threw weak passes." The Colts committed 12 of their 26 turnovers in the third quarter. Smith finally halted the run when he made a layup to make it 56-37, but by the end of the third Streetsboro led 70-43. "We just have to take care of the ball and not freak out," Smith said. "They play hard defense and they come at you. We can't freak out in those situations. We have to play slower." When the Colts hung on to the ball they shot the ball pretty, making 21-of-44 from the foor (.477), though they were just 5-of-17 on 3-pointers (.294). Inside the arc the Cloverleaf starting five was 15-of-19 (.789) but 3-of-14 (.214) from deep. Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com. Streetsboro 78, Cloverleaf 51 STREETSBORO 25 20 25 8 — 78 CLOVERLEAF &emsp;&emsp;22 13 8 8 — 51 Streetsboro — Ethan Laryea 3-0-7, Janiere Cook 3-0-7, Ryan Roscoe 7-2-17, Braden Hodge 3-0-8, P.J. Robinson 7-2-19, Dallas Morris 1-0-2, Christopher Grabill 4-0-9, Adrian Monroe 3-0-7, Gurhmehar Chima 0-0-0, Kyler Jackson 1-0-2, Darnell Brown 0-0-0, Jake Anderson 0-0-0, Jake Szczecinski 0-0-0, Alan Podboy 0-0-0. TOTALS: 32-4-78. Cloverleaf — Jackson James 3-1-8, Owen Brownson 4-0-9, Jimmy Tolley 2-0-4, Kellen Price 2-1-5, Isaac Smith 7-0-15, Brody Adams 1-0-3, Justus Sohosky 1-0-2, Damien Reed 1-0-3, Reed Kilgore 0-0-0, Matthew Jenkins 0-0-0, Austin Sustersic 0-2-2, Elliot Jordan 0-0-0, Vincent Hinderman 0-0-0, Jaden Thompson 0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-4-51. 3-point goals — Robinson 3, Hodge 2, Cook, Grabill, Laryea, Monroe, Roscoe, Adams, Brownson, James, Reed, Smith. Rebounds — Streetsboro 29 (Roscoe 7), Cloverleaf 25 (Smith 6). Assists — Streetsboro 15 (Laryea 5), Cloverleaf 13 (Smith 4). Records — Streetsboro (5-7, 3-4), Cloverleaf (4-5, 2-5). Junior varsity — Streetsboro 47, Cloverleaf 31 (C: Logan Jenkins, Grady Porter 8).