Rock Island head coach Marc Polite was satisfied with his Rock Island Rocks (12-0) pushing through for a 65-58 victory against the Aurora Metea Valley Mustangs (8-3) Friday night in Bloomington, Ill.
“This game was the most balanced we have been in a game this season,” the head coach said.
All five Rocks’ players scored in double figures, led with Lawson Zulu’s 16 points. Guard Ben Goeh and forward Jae’Vion Clark-Pugh added 13 apiece, with guards Avian Thomas and Deven Marshall with 12 and 11.
“That was indicative of this team all year,” Polite said. "We are so balanced – every night a different guy can emerge and be able to step up and play. We did not have a guy get over 20 points, and all five guys played really well. We were offensively very efficient, and we moved the ball well. We did a great job of finishing and making our free throws.”
People are also reading…
The win sets up the marquee match of the State Farm Classic on Saturday. Rock Island will face 11-2 Peoria, the top seed in the Large School Boys bracket, in the semifinals. The tip-off for that game is scheduled at 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs kept the game close after one period, trailing by just two points (20-18). However, Rock Island’s constant pressure allowed the Rocks to lead by nine (36-27) at the intermission. Aurora Metea Valley fought blow by blow against Rock Island in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring the Rocks 31-30 in the second half.
“We knew that they had a couple of more runs left in them,” Polite said. "They are a team that does not go away, and they score points in a hurry. We had to stay steadfast on our principles, grinding out possession by possession.”
The Rocks have been stout defensively throughout the season. However, in Friday night’s game, Rock Island had a hard time containing the Mustangs' Tyler Miller, Tre Watkins and Khalil Jones. The trio had 18, 14 and 12 points, and each had their way offensively.
“The (Aurora Metea Valley) guard play was second to none. Probably the best group of guards we have seen all season long,” Polite said. “They can score in a variety of different ways.”
Rock Island soundly defeated Chicago-based Machesney Park Harlem 72-39 in Thursday’s opening round game.
The Rocks are ready for one of the toughest challenges of the season against Peoria, featuring Iowa State commit in Leshawn Stowars. Stowars scored 15 points on seven made shots against Chicago Prosser Academy in the first round, and followed that with 17 points – second on the team – on five made shots and three makes from long range.
“Stowars is as good of a player as we have seen all season,” Polite said. "Our work is cut out for us, but we just have to stay steadfast and do the things we have been doing all along. He is a guy who has scored 30-plus in multiple games. He can score points in a hurry. He can play off the dribble and score around the rim. He can do a little bit of everything – he is a guy we have to be fundamentally sound and try to take away some of the primary things that he loves to do.
“Peoria is that traditional Peoria team,” Polite continued. “When they are tough, they are really good on the ball defensively. They are a pressure-style team – like in how we play – where they get up in your face and challenge everything that you do. We have to be secure and strong with the basketball and not turn the ball over.”
The Rocks continued their perfect season, but Polite does not want the team to focus on the record.
“I told our guys ... we take one game at a time,” Polite said. “I know it sounds cliché, but we have to stay focused on the now. We came into the State Farm Tournament at 0-0. We came down with the mentality of continuing to grow and continuing to get better. The first two games, we have done just that.”
Moline reaches Pekin Championship
The Moline Maroons are the second Quad City team to remain undefeated in tournament play, winning both games Friday to advance to Saturday’s Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament Championship.
Moline will face Morton (7-5) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Maroons will be looking for their first Pekin championship title since 2018. Morton upset three-time defending champion Mt. Carmel 49-45 on Friday.
The Maroons took care of business against Lake Park in the late Friday morning quarterfinal game, cruising to a 71-44 win over the 4-8 Lancers.
Senior Treyvon Taylor led the way with 17 points and five rebounds, with sophomore Brady Welch shooting 4 of 7 from long range and adding another 16 points.
Friday night’s semifinal match against third-ranked Mt. Zion (12-1) was, as expected, a tougher road to victory.
The Maroons led 16-13 after the first quarter. Sophomore Arthur Abbey trained a long-distance basket at the second quarter buzzer to extend the Moline lead to seven points (30-23).
The Mt. Zion Braves kept the game close, hitting three straight triples in the final frame, cutting into the Moline deficit. Moline started pulling away by making their free throws, building a 63-53 fourth-quarter advantage with 24 seconds left in regulation, and ultimately winning by 12 (67-59).
Welch was 4 of 8 from deep and had a Maroons’ high 20 points. Treyvon Taylor had 13 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and 3 assists. Fellow senior Braden Freeman had 18 points on 9 of 14 from the field, with 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
0 Comments
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Sameer Malla
- Author email
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today