by On January 31st, 2025, the Rocky River Pirates faced the Bay Village Rockets at Rocky River High School, resulting in a Pirate victory 39-25.
The game started off with a bang as the pirates won the tip off and drove the ball down court, attempting two three-pointer shots until Bay finally took control of the ball. They tried their hardest to score but Pirate defense prevailed, which ultimately led to a free throw shot from Rocky River’s Libby Lang.
Soon after, Norah Trefz scored a three pointer for Bay Village, taking the lead. Desperate to even the score, Olivia Dewey made a two-point shot for the Pirates. Bay Village managed to get the ball back and score one more basket before Olivia Dewey, Claudia Roche, and Nora Bruder all scored for the Pirates, ending the quarter at a score of 12-8, Rocky River.
Ainsley Lesh scored a three pointer to start off the second quarter, but that was the end of points for the Rockets in the first half. Bridget Carlin then scored a three point shot for Rocky River, which was followed by Pirate Nora Bruder attacking the basket with a two pointer, three pointer, and two free throws. This closed the half at a score of 23-11, Pirates.
The third quarter was filled with back and forth between the two teams, starting with a basket from Rocky River’s Libby Lang, and baskets from the Rocket’s Grace Manoloff and Caroline Chilton. The Bay Village offense was strong in this quarter as they tried to defer any more Pirate points, but their plan wasn’t completely foolproof as Claudia Roche and Nora Bruder both managed to score another basket to end the quarter at a score of 30-16, Rocky River.
By the time the fourth rolled around, the Rockets had clearly had a change in their mood. They were determined to make up the loss in points and started the period off strong with a basket from Grace Manoloff.
Libby Lang, however, had a different idea of how the quarter would go, as she scored two back to back baskets for the Pirates. Once Bay gained repossession of the ball, Quinn O’Leary scored a three pointer, which was followed by a Pirate three point shot from Nora Bruder.
Bay Village managed to score two more baskets, which can be attributed to Andy Naughton and Grace Manoloff, but in the end the Pirates offense pulled through and the game ended with a basket from Rocky River’s Olivia Dewey. The final score was 39-25, Pirates.
After the game I asked Rocky River Girls Basketball Head Coach Jamey Pfhal about what he told the Lady Pirates in the locker room before the game to get them so motivated. He said that he “challenged them to play fast defensively and play with relentless effort”, and it is clear through this performance that they listened.
The top Pirate scorers for the game were Nora Bruder, Libby Lang, Olivia Dewey, Claudia Roche, and Bridget Carlin. The top scorers for Bay Village were Quinn O’Leary, Grace Manoloff, Andy Naughton, Caroline Chilton, and Norah Trefz.
