Cleveland, Ohio — Thursday night Cleveland Central Catholic (4-3) searched for redemption against Rhodes High School (4-2). Rhodes got the 52-48 win and stayed undefeated on the road this season.
Rhodes jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first couple of minutes playing off of their full court press. CCC got a couple baskets at the halfway point trailing 4-5.
Right after that CCC got going with a quick 7-0 run including a three from Elleion Williams and a layup from De'moni Laster. CCC trailed 12-7 with two minutes to go. Williams hit another three right out of the timeout.
CCC ended the quarter up 15-10.
Both teams came into the second trading threes one from Ken’dell Sheffield and the other coming from Savion Bush. Both started to slow down as Rhodes began to force turnovers with their zone defense.
Around the halfway mark Rhodes went into a timeout up 21-15. Both teams continued to struggle finding offense until about two minutes to go.
Michael Duncan Knocked down a much needed three to cut the lead to 21-19. Jeremyah Brown responded for Rhodes and Duncan responded right back with a three at the buzzer.
Rhodes led at halftime 26-22.
Duncan and Andrew Gordon traded baskets early in the third. Rhodes led 30-26 two minutes in. Two free throws from McCullough cut the lead to 30-29 around four minutes left, prompting a timeout.
Fresh out of the timeout Laster drove to the basket dishing an assist for a Brown layup. After a few more slow possessions from both teams Rhodes went into the fourth up 32-29.
Laster had a huge fourth quarter for the Rams. He came out and assisted on three straight buckets including a Brown layup and Williams three.
CCC didn’t back down as they got a three of their own from Ka’Elon Hurt along with a few buckets from Deonte James. Rhodes went into the timeout up 40-36 with five minutes to go.
After a couple possessions a couple of free throws brought the Ironmen within two with 3:30 to go. After that both teams started to fire back and back forth.
It started with a three from Williams, Rhodes led 45-40 with three minutes to go. CCC hit another one before Treva’on Green and Duncan traded a pair.
Rhodes led 48-46 with one minute to go. Andre McCullough tied it up with a spinning layup prompting a timeout.
Right on Que, Laster drove to the basket and found Brown for a layup. Rhodes led 50-48.
Rhodes closed it out with a steal and score winning 52-48.
I got to speak with the Head Coach for Rhodes Shawn Spencer about Laster.
“The Kid is getting better and better every night," said Spencer. "If he continues to work, if he continues to show up at practice and continues to do really well in school, the sky is the limit for De'moni.”
Spencer also said this when asked about the win.
“Start unknown, finish unforgettable. We got a bunch of kids nobody talks about which is fine. We’re going to continue to work our tails off and see what the results are.”
The Rhodes Rams will be back in action January 9th 7:30 PM at Brush
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