ROOTSTOWN, OH- With the regular season coming to a close and Sectionals right around the corner, the Rootstown Rovers hosted the Mogadore Wildcats for their senior night game on Friday night. Both teams have had tough seasons and were looking to carry some positive momentum into the OHSAA postseason tournament. Rootstown came up with some big defense late as they held of the Wildcats 45-42.
The Rovers would get off to a good start as Carson Hayn opened the scoring with a three ball that ignited an 8-1 run the was capped off by an Ethan White three.
Mogadore would score the next five points on a Nick Stephenson and-one conversion and a Jordan Smith bucket to cut the deficit to 8-6. The Rovers would end the quarter on a 7-1 run capped off by a Landon Rodstrom three to beat the buzzer.
The Rovers would take a 15-7 lead after one.
Mogadore turned the table in a big way to open quarter two. Demitri Blagojevic caught fire scoring eight straight including a pair of three's during an 11-0 Wildcats run to open the quarter as they took an 18-15 lead.
Blake Mullaly would score inside for the Rovers to stop the run before Blagojevic hit another three to give the Wildcats a 21-17 lead. The Rovers then rolled of seven straight on a Hayn three, Rodstrom layup and Mullaly drive to the hoop to regain the lead at 24-21.
A Stephenson free throw split gave the Wildcats their final point of the half as the Rovers led 24-22 at the break. Carson Hayn led the Rovers in the 1st half with 8 points while Demitri Blagojevic dropped in 12 points with 11 coming in quarter two.
Demitri Blagojevic picked up right where he left off in quarter two opening the 2nd half with his fourth three of the game putting Mogadore up one. Carson Hayn would answer right back with a three of his own to give Rootstown back the lead. After a Nick Stephenson score, Hayn would get a bucket inside to put the Rovers up 31-27.
The Wildcats would score the final four points to tie the game at 31-31 heading to the fourth.
The Rovers would score the first five points of the final frame after a Blake Mullaly and-one conversion gave them a 36-31 lead.
At the other end Jude Thiry would hit a big three for Mogadore cutting the deficit to 36-34.
Blake Mullaly would answer right back with a three of his own from the top of the circle putting Rootstown up 39-34.
Rootstown would hold a 43-36 lead late before Blagojevic hit back to back three balls to make it a one point game with just over a minute to play.
Rootstown would get a couple big free throws down the stretch and some big defense holding the Wildcats scoreless in the final minute. Mogadore still had a chance to tie down three, but a critical over and back call pretty much sealed the game. Jordan Smith's last second heave from just inside half court bounced off the glass and the Rovers prevailed on senior night 45-42.
Carson Hayn led the way for the Rovers with 14 points and three shots from deep. Blake Mullaly chipped in 9 points and 7 rebounds. Demitri Blagojevic topped Mogadore with 21 points and six three balls.
Rootstown will travel to face 7 seed Lake Center Christian next Friday in the Division VI sectional while Mogadore will host 28 seed Black River the same night.
Postgame interview with Carson Hayn and coach Bobby Staudt.
Postgame interview with Rootstown seniors Luke Flowers and Zach Hays.
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