On Tuesday night the Independence Patriots traveled to Rocky River High School for their second game of the regular season against the Ravens. For the third straight game the Patriots started out cold scoring only seven first quarter points. Anthony Salley led the Ravens scoring eight points, two of which were from the three point area, giving the Ravens a 12-7 first quarter lead.

In the second quarter Jaden Springer led the Ravens with eight points as Rocky River opened up a six point lead 17-11. With 5:45 to go in the half Indy’s Matthew Statile hit a three pointer to cut the lead to three 17-14. On Indy’s next possession Robert Bonar drove down the lane hitting a lay up trimming the score to one.

With the score tied at 19, Indy’s Raja Milton hit a 3-pointer to put Indy in the lead 22-19 with three minutes to go in the first half. At the 2:09 mark Robert Bonar hit another 3-pointer putting Indy up 25-19.

However, the Ravens came fighting back and tied the score with 33 seconds left in the half. With the score tied, Indy made a quick in bounds pass and quickly moved the ball down the court. Indy’s Robert Bonar attempted a shot and was fouled with 25 seconds left to go in the half. Bonar made one of his two shots putting Indy up 26-25. Indy stole the inbounds pass and Bonar got off a shot with two seconds to go. The ball bounced off the rim, and was rebounded by Indy’s Andra Mckee who was fouled. Mckee went to the line shooting a one-and-one, made both of his foul shots and Indy took a 28-25 half time lead.

In the third quarter Rocky River took the lead at the 7:10 mark and went on a 6-0 run making the score 31-28. With 5:39 remaining in the quarter, Indy’s senior point guard Chea Johnson drove to the basket and was fouled. Johnson made his foul shot to tie the score 31-31.

Indy took the lead 33-31 on a Jordan Mobley jump shot with 4:46 to go and moved out to a 36-33 lead. With 2:05 left in the quarter, on the next possession Rocky River’s Elijah Sudbury threw a high pass to Jaden Springer who caught the ball above the rim and got the dunk to cut the lead to one 36-35.

Rocky River moved back in front with 1:31 left in the quarter and moved to a three point lead 39-36 with 1:20 to go in the third. After Indy had cut the lead to one with 55 seconds left, Raven’s Anthony Salley hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining and Rocky River took a 42-38 third quarter lead.

In the fourth quarter Rocky River had a 46-40 lead over the Patriots with 6:40 remaining in the game. With 6:32 left Indy’s Jordan Mobley was fouled on a three point shot. Mobley went to the line and made all three shots cutting the score to three 46-43.

On the next possession Rocky River attempted to drive the lane but Indy’s Justyn Hamilton blocked the shot. Jordan Mobley brought the ball down the court and hit a long 3-pointer and Indy retook the lead 48-46 with 5:42 left.

Indy stole the inbounds pass and Raja Milton gots the ball to Justyn Hamilton, who was fouled and went to the line shooting one-and-one. Hamilton missed the front end of the one-and-one, and the Ravens came down with the rebound and tied the score 48-48 with 5:02 left in the game. Indy quickly took back the lead on a Jordan Mobley 3-pointer from the corner.

Indy applied pressure on the inbounds pass and Rocky River threw the ball away. Indy took over with 4:56 left in the game. Indy took a little time off the clock and put up a shot with 3:15 to go. Indy’s shot bounced off the rim. Justyn Hamilton got the put back and was fouled. Hamilton hit the foul shot putting Indy up 54-48.

With 1:18 left in the game, Rocky River’s Jaden Springer was fouled. Springer made both of his foul shots to cut the lead to four 54-50.

On Indy’s next possession they looked to take some time off the clock. Rocky River finally fouled Robert Bonar with 47.8 seconds to play. Bonar missed the foul shot but got his own rebound. Bonar got the ball to Hamilton who passed it back outside to Raja Milton. Rocky River committed the foul with 38.4 seconds left in the game. Milton made one of his two foul shots, and Indy was up by four 55-51. Rocky River pushed the ball down court
and took a quick 3-pointer. The ball came off the rim and was rebounded by Indy’s Justyn Hamilton who was immediately fouled with 16.3 seconds
to go in the game.

After hitting one of his two shots, Indy moved to a 56-51 lead. Rocky River got the inbounds pass. Chea Johnson applied pressure as the Ravens tried to get the ball down court. Rocky River tried a highly contested 3- pointer that hit the rim and was immediately rebounded by Justyn Hamilton who got fouled with only 4.2 seconds left in the game. Hamilton made both of his foul shots, and Indy moved out to a 58-51 lead.

Rocky River’s Raquan Brown hit a long 3-pointer as the horn sounded to make the final score 58-54 as Indy hung on to second place in the Southwestern 4A Conference.

After the game Indy’s Coach Davis said, “I told the guys they could expect them to be a lot better. They were missing their starting point guard the first time. They are playing at home. Its senior night. We did a good job the first time, but most teams play better at home.”

“Everybody was kinda looking past the game a little bit to the Butler game knowing it was going to be a good match up, and I know they heard that. I know they heard the people talking about the Indy and Butler game. And I’m sure they felt disrespected, and they came out and played hard.”

“I told the guys it was a good win. We fought through adversity a couple of times and we just found a way to win.”

Junior Jordan Mobley led the Patriots with 14 points. Matthew Statile and Andra Mckee added 9 points each. Justyn Hamilton had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 5 blocked shots. Chea Johnson had 7 points, 6 assists and 1 steal. Raja Milton finished with 4 points. Robert Bonar had 3 points, and Matthew Smith and Victor Tshiona had two points each.

Rocky River placed three players in double figures. Jaden Springer led the Ravens with 20 points. Anthony Salley poured in 11, Darlinstone Dubar added 10, Mikey Maddon 7 and Raquan Brown 6.

Independence  7 21 10 20 – 58
RockyRiver  12 13 17 12 – 54