ROCKY GROVE 68, KEYSTONE 53

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January 30, 2008

KNOX - Behind a 14-0 run to start the second half, Rocky Grove all but clinched its first (and last) KSAC-West title with a 68-53 win at Keystone Wednesday night.

The Orioles (19-1 overall, 15-1 KSAC-West) have a two-game lead over the Panthers (16-4, 13-3) with three games remaining for each team. The two teams split the season series with Keystone winning 63-43 Jan. 11 at Rocky Grove. 

The Orioles, the No.7 overall and No. 5 Class A team in the RRR Roadhouse/D9Sports.com Rankings, held a slim 33-30 lead at halftime but held Keystone, the No. 6 overall and No. 4 Class A team, without a bucket for the first 5:53 of the second half to take a 47-30 lead. 

Aaron Luce nailed two three-pointers and another jumper while scoring eight of Rocky Grove's 14 points during the stretch. Luce finished with a 18 points.

Keystone stopped the with a Ben Black free throw at 3:07 but was held without a field goal until 1:49 remained in the quarter when Kyle Rhoads' runner ended the drought.

Keystone closed the gap to 11 points, 50-39, early in the fourth quarter on a Brock Witkowski three-pointer, but Andrew Setzkorn's jumper and a Cruz Mietus three-pointer gave the Orioles their biggest lead of the game, 55-39.

Rocky Grove senior guard Ethan Gravatt led all scorers with 20 points with Mietus adding 10 points including two three-pointers.

Senior guards Cristian Summerville and Kyle Rhoads had 13 points apiece for Keystone.

NOTES:  Rocky Grove's remaining conference schedule includes three home games (Friday - West Forest, Feb. 5 - Union, Feb. 7 - Venango Catholic) ... Keystone will host Moniteau Friday night while traveling to Venango Catholic and Cranberry next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively ... Rocky Grove outrebounded Keystone 29-19 ... This is Rocky Grove's final season in District 9. The Orioles, who moved to D9 from District 10 four years ago, are going back to District 10 after this season. 

ROCKY GROVE 68, KEYSTONE 53

Score by Quarter

Rocky Grove  15  18  17  18  -  68

Keystone  12  18  6  17  -  53 

Rocky Grove - 68

Travis Melhuish 2 0-2 5, Andrew Setzkorn 3 2-3 9, Cruz Mietus 3 2-2 10, Aaron Luce 6 3-6 18, Eddie McDonald 0 0-0 0, Ethan Gravatt 8 4-6 20, Dylan Gravatt 2 2-2 6. TOTAL 24 13-22 68.

Keystone - 53

Ben Marchand 2 1-2 6, Kyle Rhoads 4 4-6 13, Brian Long 0 0-0 0, Derek Swartfager 1 0-0 2, Ben Black 1 1-2 3, Brock Witkowski 2 0-0 6, Garrett Rapp 2 0-0 4, Cristian Summerville 4 2-2 13, Dan Reed 1 0-0 2, Josh Huffman 1 2-2 4. TOTAL 18 10-14

Three-Pointers: Keystone 7 (Summerville 3, Witkowski 2, Rhoads, Marchand), Rocky Grove 7 (Luce 3, Mietus 2, Setzkorn, Melhuish).