Roy-Hart rallies past Cleve Hill in B3 semi

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 25 March 2021 at 9:09 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Gavyn Boyle puts up a shot against Cleveland Hill defenders Jordan Mann (21) and Montrice Webster (24) during the host Rams sectional semifinal win over the Eagles this evening.

Putting together a big second half scoring edge, No. 6 seed Roy-Hart rallied to defeat visiting No. 7 Cleveland Hill 65-56 this evening in the semifinals of the Section VI Class B3 playoffs.

The victory propels Roy-Hart into Saturday’s B3 championship game at No. 5 Fredonia which downed No. 8 Wilson 70-34 in the other semifinal.

Trailing by nine, 34-25, at the half, Roy-Hart came battling back to outscore Cleve Hill 40-22 in the second half to claim the victory and a spot in the title contest.

Roy-Hart used a 16-7 third period scoring edge to rally into a 41-41 tie at the three-quarter mark.

Roy-Hart’s Tom Ragonese works to keep possession of a rebound as the Cleve Hill duo of Charlie Meredith (5) and Jordan Mann (21) try to rip it away.

Aiden Petrie scored 9 points on a three-point play, two layup and a jumper to spearhead that rally by the Rams which also included two baskets by Tom Ragonese and one by Gavyn Boyle.

Keeping the momentum, the Rams then outpointed the Eagles 24-15 in the decisive final quarter to lock up the win.

Rhett Goodwin scored 11 points on two jumpers, a layup and 5 free throws to lead that uprising for the Rams which also included two threes by Jon Gillings, a three-point play by Boyle and buckets by Ragonese and Petrie.

Leading by just four, 55-51, midday through the stanza the Rams finally pulled away for good with a clutch 10-2 run which included two jumpers and a layup by Goodwin, a three by Gillings and a layup by Petrie.

Goodwin finished with 22, Ragonese 15, Petrie 14, Boyle 8 and Gillings 6 for the Rams.

Charlie Meredith scored a game high 26 and Nathan Cummings had 12 to pace the Eagles.

Cleve Hill jumped to to a quick 10 point, 18-8, first quarter lead as Meredith led the way with 9.

Meredith then netted 7 and Cummings 6 in the second quarter to help keep Cleve Hill up by nine, 34-25, at the half.

Ragonese scored 9 and Goodin 8, including two threes, in the second quarter to keep the Rams close.

However, Roy-Hart got rolling offensively in the second half outscoring Cleve Hill by 18 (40-22) over the final two periods to claim the victory.

Fredonia 70, Wilson 34

Fredonia raced out to commanding leads of 20-4 after one period and 38-14 at the half in route to posting a 70-34 win over Wilson.

Michael Miller led Wilson with 10.

Girls B2 Sectionals

Top seeded Wilson defeated No. 4 Akron 34-28 in the Section VI Class B2 semifinals.