Streetsboro pulls away in 4th to clinch D4 Sectional Title 70-55 over VASJ behind 28 points from Batten

STREETSBORO, OH- The #7 seed Streetsboro Rockets hosted the #13 seed Villa-Angela St. Joe's Vikings on Friday night in a Division IV Sectional Final. The 19-3 Rockets came in having won seven straight and eleven of twelve to close out the regular season while the Vikings won three of their last four regular season games. After a close three quarters, the Rockets pulled away in the 4th for a 70-55 Sectional Final win.

It was a slow start offensively as both teams came up dry on their first few possessions before Vikings senior guard Sean Shenker hit a step back three for the first points of the game.

Sean Shenker scores the first points of the game with a three for VASJ

A Jayveon Roe bucket put the Vikings up 5-2 before Trevor Murray and Janiere Cook scored back to back to give Streetsboro a 6-5 lead. The teams would then have seven consecutive lead changes to close out the 1st quarter. A Murray three ball would give the Rockets a 14-12 lead after one.

Jack Batten would open the scoring in the 2nd with a three putting the Rockets up 17-12.

Jack Batten hits a three for the Rockets to begin quarter two

That three would ignite a 12-2 run that put Streetsboro up 26-14. VASJ would come right back after a Shenker three and a Jaevon Hairston and-one conversion sparked an 8-0 run by the Vikings to cut the deficit to 26-22.

Jaevon Hairston puts it in with the foul for VASJ in the 2nd

The Rockets would take a 30-24 lead into the half. Batten led all scorers at the break with 9 points for Streetsboro while Shenker and Antonio Brown each had 6 for the Vikings.

Streetsboro would score five straight to open the 3rd after a Viking basket to take a 35-26 lead. A few possessions later an and-one conversion by the Rockets Charles Ivory would push the lead out to 40-30.

Charles Ivory scores inside with the foul for Streetsboro in the 3rd

Shortly after Julian Council would hit back to back three balls to cut the deficit to 42-36 for the Vikings.

Julian Council drains a three for VASJ in the 3rd

The Rockets would maintain their halftime lead of six at 43-37 after three.

Streetsboro would put the game away in the 4th with a 13-2 run to start the quarter with 11 of those coming from Batten as he added two more three's and a pair of technical foul free throws opening up a 56-39 lead.

Jack Batten buries his sixth three of the game in the 4th for the Rockets

The Vikings could not get any closer than 15 the rest of the way and were not able to get defensive stops down the stretch. The Rockets would get the big win 70-55 to advance to Districts.

Jack Batten had a game high 28 points with 6 three's for ther Rockets. Charles Ivory chipped in 13 points and Trevor Murray 10. Antonio Brown and Jeremiah Martin led the Vikings with 11 points each.

Streetsboro advances to host #12 seed Woodridge on Tuesday.

Postgame interviews with Jack Batten and coach Nick Marcini.