Rootstown runs past Garfield 84-55
ROOTSTOWN, OH- It was a boys Portage County matinee matchup Saturday afternoon in Garrettsville as the Garfield G-MEN opened their season hosting the 1-1 Rootstown Rovers. The Rovers were looking to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Tuslaw while the G-MEN ushered in the Matt Hill era with his first game as varsity head coach. Rootstown came out aggressive from the jump scoring early and often, running away with an 84-55 win.
The G-MEN opened the scoring with an Oliver Walker free throw split before Rootstown went on a 7-0 run capped off by an Ethan White three to take a 7-1 lead.
Ethan White buries a three for Rootstown in the 1st
Garfield would cut it to three following a Devin Bates score inside, but the Rovers would outscore Garfield 11-4 the rest of the quarter to take a 20-10 lead after one.
The 2nd quarter was a high scoring affair for both squads. The Rovers opened it up with a pair of Dean Abdlrsul free throws and a Blake Mullaly bucket to open up a 24-10 lead. The Rover lead fluctuated from 11 to 13 points most of the quarter before Parker Gill hit a three for Garfield cutting it to single digits at 40-32. Caleb Fillmore answered right back converting an and-one opportunity after a score and foul inside followed by an Abdlrasul score to close the half.
Caleb Fillmore scores and is fouled coverting the and-one opportunity in the 2nd
Rootstown took a 45-32 lead into the break. Fillmore scored 12 of his game high 14 points in the 2nd.
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The Rovers came out strong to start the 2nd half on a 9-2 run following a White three to open up a 52-34 lead. The lead ballooned to 25 midway through the 3rd after a Rover 8-1 run that featured a pair of Abdlrasul buckets and a nice drive and score by Carson Hayn.
Carson Hayn with the drive and score in the 3rd
That remained the deficit the rest of the quarter as Rootstown held a 68-43 lead after three.
Rootstown kept their foot on the gas the whole 2nd half extending the lead to 74-47 following a Fillmore drive and score.
Caleb Fillmore scores inside early in the 4th for the Rovers
They would cruise to an 84-55 win.
Caleb Fillmore finished with a game high 25 points for the Rovers. Ethan White had 16 points while Carson Hayn and Blake Mullaly each scored 13.
Devin Bates and Brandyn Bogucki each led the G-MEN with 14 points a piece.
Rootstown looks to build off this win when they travel to Wickliffe on 12/10 while the G-MEN have to wait a week when they host Waterloo next Saturday.
