Seniors Robert Rucker, Melik Hampton guide Rogers to district title
Melik Hampton and Robert Rucker had played great games before, but never at the same time and never in such an important situation.
The Rogers seniors combined for 49 points Friday night as the Pirates secured what’s believed to be their first district basketball championship by defeating visiting Shadle Park 77-55 in the District 8 3A title game.
“It’s really only the beginning,” said 6-foot-4 forward Hampton, who totaled 25 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks despite not scoring for the final 7 minutes, 45 second because of foul trouble. “We’ve come so far this season and there’s a lot more work to be done.”
“Before the game we said, ‘Let’s make history. Let’s get a banner up here,’ and that’s what we did,” said 6-0 guard Rucker, who scored 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and added five assists and two steals.
“Robert and Melik, they played the best game they’ve played all season,” second-year Pirates head coach Joel Soter said. “And they played it on the same night, which they haven’t done this season. That’s not coaching, that’s just two players going out there and doing what they can do.”
The Pirates (14-7) will host a regional title game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against today’s winner between Kennewick and Hanford. Shadle (13-9) will host the Kennewick-Hanford loser in a loser-out game on Friday.
Rogers last made state in 2009, when Soter was an assistant coach. The Pirates didn’t win the district title that season, and Soter said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rogers had never won a district crown.
“It’s huge,” Soter said. “It just gives them something to rally around. This has been kind of a source of inspiration that our players have taken it upon themselves to be for this school.”
Rogers, which owned a pair of seven-point Greater Spokane League wins over Shadle this season, stormed ahead 21-8 in the first quarter as Hampton scored nine points and senior guard Isaiah Wynecoop eight.
Shadle rallied behind seniors George Pilimai, who scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half, and Bronson Leinweber, who came off the bench for eight points.
Shadle took its first lead (32-30) on Kobe Reece’s basket during the first minute of the second half. The Highlanders led 35-33 after a 3-pointer by N’Keil Nelson, but Rogers responded with the first of two 9-0 second-half runs to take control for good.
Rucker scored 22 points in the second half, including three consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
“Tonight really just showed what we’re capable of when we work hard and we come together as a team,” Soter said. “When we play for something bigger than ourselves, which is the whole school.”