Rogers Duo, Defense Darkens Knights

GSL/FL boys

It’s early but the Rogers Pirates are already better than they were of late.

A season after going 1-19, the Pirates got 25 points from senior De’Andre Mosby and 23 from sophomore Brett Oglesbee, both career highs, to roll past East Valley 73-49 at Rogers Saturday night.

It was their second non-league win in as many nights to open the season. East Valley is 0-2.

“Defensively, in the first half, especially, we were gambling too much, lunging,” Rogers coach Rick Mergenthaler said. “One thing we were pleased with in the second half is we did a better job with our pressure (defense) and blocking out.”

That’s an understatement.

The Pirates held the Knights without a field goal for the last 10:42 and only allowed two points in the fourth quarter.

Sean Dempsey had six of his 10 points in a 13-3 run to close the first half that gave Rogers a 39-32 lead and the momentum. The Pirates pushed it to 15 before Mitch Johnson and James Spotted Horse scored consecutive baskets for the Knights, cutting the margin to 52-41 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

That’s when the Knights went dark, but it’s not like the Pirates didn’t want them in the game. Rogers quickly got to 10 fouls and in the final 1:34 of the quarter, EV had six two-shot fouls and only scored six points.

Right after EV’s last field goal, Spotted Horse, who had a 60-point game last year, picked up his fourth foul and sat down. He made it 1:27 into the fourth quarter before he was called for an offensive foul, leaving the game with 13 points. Brad Wilson led EV with 15.

Meanwhile, Mosby and Oglesbee, who opened his varsity career with 21 points on Friday night, were lighting up the Knights.

Mosby had nine in the first quarter, Oglesbee had eight in the second and they combined for 13 in the third.

“The chemistry’s a lot better, the kids get along,” Mergenthaler said. “They believe they can win. They have to show more discipline. They know we have to play better, but we’re young.”

Rogers 73, East Valley 49

East Valley 17 1 15 15 2 - 49

Rogers 14 25 19 15 - 73

EAST VALLEY - McCarty o, Blize 0, Smith 0, Wilson 15, Johnson 6, Anderson 8, Harris 2, Sams 4, Shogren 1, Spotted Horse 13, Rigg 0.

ROGERS Browning 3, Hoooper 0, Borders 0, Battle 2, K.Oglesbee 6, Mosby 25, B.Oglesbee 23, Winfrey 0, Dorton 2, Dempsey 10, Pugh 0, Preston 2.

Cheney 52, Shadle Park 47

The Blackhawks (2-0) raced to a big early lead and then held off the Highlanders (1-1) at Cheney.

Austin Parker scored 17 points and Paul Malisani had 11 for Cheney to offset a 28-point game by Chris Anderson.

Shadle Park 8 13 6 20 - 47

Cheney 21 8 7 16 - 52

Shadle Park - Dunham 8, Pate 4, Meyers 1, Anderson 28, Mohr 4, Hipps 2.

Cheney - Waller 3, Urdahl 7, Williams 8 Reser 2, Parker 17, Malisani 11, Stoddard 2, Sobotta 2.

Kennewick 41, Mead 37

The visiting Lions used a slight advantage on the boards to edge the Panthers (1-1).

Guard J.J. Klaus led Mead with 14.

Kennewick 9 11 12 9 - 41

Mead 7 10 12 8 - 37

KENNEWICK MacKay 3, Bendewald 3, Mitchell 2, Meneeely 13, Boneck 8, Rockefeller 4, Finney 6, Johnson 2.

MEAD Klaus 14, Inderriden 3, Adams 3, Galles 8, Kaiser 7, Hatem 2.

Kamiakin 76, Central Valley 66

The Braves (2-0) pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the visiting Bears in their season opener.

Marc Hinkley had 15 points and Ryan Smith 14 for CV.

Kamiakin was led by Scott Mitchell with 29 and Billy Morris with 20.

Central Valley 22 15 17 12 - 66

Kamiakin 20 20 15 21 - 76

CENTRAL VALLEY Brown 6, Smith 14, Nesbitt 9, Bemis 1, Platt 8, Hinckley 15, McFarlane 9, Perkes 4.

KAMIAKIN Mitchell 29, Upton 2, Morris 20, Wyberg 2, Maki 3, Chasse 0, Utecht 6, Giesa 14.

Eisenhower 54, Lewis and Clark 35

The Cadets earned a split of their season-opening visit to Spokane by pulling away from the Tigers (0-2).

Pat Luce led the Tigers with 12 points.

Eisenhower 16 15 13 10 - 54

Lewis and Clark 13 9 6 7 - 35

LEWIS AND CLARK Bowman 9, Stack 4, Luce 12, Marshal 7, Hook 3.

EISENHOWER Hartshor 2, Phillips 4, J. Sylvej 10, Mitchell 8, Salausa 15, Sylve N. 5, McDonalce 2, Witfield 2.

Pullman 66, Colfax 52

The Greyhounds (1-1) hit 9 of 11 shots in the second quarter to open a lead, then pulled away from the visiting Bulldogs (0-2) in the fourth quarter.

Colfax 13 13 13 13 - 52

Pullman 11 22 12 21 - 65

COLFAX Kehne 5, Dimery 0, Robinson 0, Warwick 3, Curtis 8, Dyke 9, Cook 0, Keck 5, Varnes 3, Stoner 10, Vantine 4.

PULLMAN Linehan 2, Randall 1, Brown 6, Harms 21, Holmes 8, Svingen 4, B.Cummings 8, A.Cummings 0, Marong 4, Keep 12.

Connell 74, Riverside 71 (OT)

Ryan Moore poured in 33 points but it wasn’t enough as the Rams (0-2) fell to the visiting Eagles.

Moore scored twice in the final 30 seconds to force OT. The Rams missed their final three shots in overtime.

Connell 15 21 13 16 9 - 74

Riverside 16 15 15 19 6 - 71

CONNELL Mackay 2, Colclasure 5, Warr 8, Bailie 22, Marquadt 22, Davis 2, Clyde 6, Page 2.

RIVERSIDE Otto 10, Lundberg 3, Monroe 33, Daubel 3, Frowick 5, Leaf 4, Crance 10, Kapelke 2.

Moses Lake at University, ppd.

Poor road conditions in the Moses Lake area kept the Chieftans at home. No makeup has been scheduled.

, DataTimes