by STREETSBORO, Ohio– Streetsboro junior point guard Trevor Murray knew once the ball left his hands that the ball was going through the net. Murray would go on and hit a corner 3-pointer with four seconds left to give his team a 26-23 win over Cleveland Central Catholic Tuesday night.
“It felt perfect,” Murray said with a smile on his face when asked if he knew if his shot would find the bottom of the net. “It feels amazing, without my teammates and my coaches I wouldn’t be here today.”
FINAL: Streetsboro 26, CCC 23. @SportsKee1 @RocketAthletic1 thanks to a game-winning 3-pointer with 4 seconds left from Trevor Murray. pic.twitter.com/2FrI8Nq9Ly
— Michael Trivisonno (@MichaelTriv_) February 28, 2024
Scoring came at a premium Tuesday night as scoring runs highlighted a steady first half. The Ironmen opened up to a 5-4 lead midway through the third quarter right before the Rockets were able to run through their offense to get baskets near the rim.
They closed the final four minutes of the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 9-5 lead after the opening quarter.
The second quarter was where both teams struggled mightily. They ran through their respective offenses but could not come away with any points on a slew of possessions. Coupling that with turnovers and the closure to the first half was a struggle for both teams as they combined to score 10 points to close out the half.
The Ironmen opened up the second quarter with a 12-9 lead with five minutes left in the half and the Rockets would respond by going on a 3-0 run in the final four minutes to tie the game at 12 heading into halftime.
The Ironmen led for the majority of the second half. In fact, they only trailed for one minute throughout the third and fourth quarters. Rockets’ junior forward Jackson Gula gave his team a 23-21 lead with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Jackson Gula gives Streetsboro a 23-21 lead with 1:29 left in the 4th Q. @SportsKee1 @RocketAthletic1 pic.twitter.com/sVYJNFFzCQ
— Michael Trivisonno (@MichaelTriv_) February 28, 2024
The only other point scored by the Rockets to close out the game was Murray’s corner 3-pointer that ultimately gave his team a win and now will host a sectional final game Friday night.
“Great win, great team win,” Rockets coach Nick Marcini said. “Six years in a row we got a tournament win now and we have a chance to win the sectional Friday night at home.”
For the game, Gula finished with a team-high seven points along with six each from Murray and Charles Ivory. For the Ironmen, freshman Michael Duncan led the way with a team-high seven points along with five apiece from Andre McCullough and Josiah Knox.
Up next for the Rockets is a sectional final matchup against Marlington after they defeated Struthers 59-55 Tuesday night as part of the Division II, Region V, Northeast I District.
