ROCKY GROVE 67, UNION 53

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KSAC Championship Game ~ February 9, 2008

Orioles win first KSAC Title

Photo by Kevin Close

CLARION – Ethan Gravatt scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Cruz Mietus had 17 points to lead Rocky Grove to the KSAC boys' basketball title with a 67-53 win over Union in the KSAC Title Game at Clarion High School Saturday afternoon.

The title comes in Rocky Grove's fourth and final year in the KSAC and is the Orioles first league crown. Rocky Grove is moving back to District 10 next season.

 “This means a lot, especially to the seniors who have been here all four years” Rocky Grove head coach Steve Cutchall said. “It is a nice accomplishment. We are proud to win the league title.”

The Orioles came off the bus on fire hitting 4 of 7 shots to start the game with all seven shots taken being three-pointers. That helped Rocky Grove build a 25-12 lead at the end of the quarter.

“We are a streaky team like that,” Cutchall said. “A lot of times its in the first quarter because you come off the bus and the legs are fresh.” 

Rocky Grove's streak, though, came to and end in the second quarter with the Orioles hitting just 2 of 13 shots. But Rocky Grove was able to get to the free-throw line 10 times in the quarter hitting seven of them. That allowed Union to only shave four points off the lead by halftime, and the Knights were down 37-28 at the break.

Union, however, started the half with a 7-0 run to cut Rocky Grove’s lead to 37-35.

Union, though, had trouble scoring the rest of the third quarter missing seven straight shots while turning the ball over six times.

With Union not scoring or holding onto the ball, Rocky Grove put the game away with a 14-0 run to grab a 53-37 lead at the end of three quarters.

“I have a lot respect for my guys,” Cutchall said. “They came back after Union made run, and you knew they were going to come back. They are a team that can put points up. They are a good offensive team.”

Rocky Grove then extended the lead to as many as 21 points, 60-39, early in the fourth quarter, and Union never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.

A.J. Ethriedge led Union with 20 points and nine rebounds, but leading scorer Scott Booth was held to just 10 points.

NOTES - Rocky Grove outrebounded Union 39-28 with Travis Melhuish joining Gravatt in leading the Orioles with 11 rebounds. Neil Scott also had nine for Union ... Despite the hot start from the field that including 10 of 16 shots in the first quarter (62.5 percent), Rocky Grove shot just 37 percent (20 of 54) for the game including 26.3 percent (10 of 38) from the second quarter on. Union shot 46.8 percent (22 of 47) but just 35.7 percent (10 of 28) in the second half after hitting 12 of 19 (63.2 percent) in the first half. Despite that hot first-half shooting, Union trailed by nine at the break because of eight turnovers and nine Rocky Grove offensive rebounds.

ROCKY GROVE 67, UNION 53

Score by Quarter

Rocky Grove 25  12  16 14 – 67

Union12 16 9 16 – 53

Rocky Grove – 67

Travis Melhuish 4 0-0 8, Andrew Setzkorn 3 4-4 12, Cruz Mietus 6 2-2 17, Aaron Luce 3 0-2 8, Eddie McDonald 0 0-0 0, Ethan Gravatt 3 11-12 18, Dylan Gravatt 1 2-6 4. Totals 20 19-26 67.

Union – 53

Zach Smith 3 0-0 6, Logan Mortimer 0 0-2 0, Neil Scott 2 2-6 7, Colby Davis 0 0-0 0, Clay Burns 1 0-0 3, A.J. Ethriedge 10 0-0 20, Scott Booth 3 4-5 10, Spencer Varner 3 0-0 7. Totals 22 6-13 53.

Three-pointers – Rocky Grove 8 (Mietus 3, Setzkorn 2, Luce 2, E. Gravatt). Union 3 (Scott, Burns, Varner).