For a half, Rockville's boys basketball team looked as good as they have all season offensively against Northwood on Wednesday night. However, fatigue set in during the second half, and the Gladiators took advantage, winning 44-35.
Rockville (2-4) came out strong, leading for the entire first half, including an eight-point lead at one point in the second quarter. In the second half though, the team was dominated on the boards, and was inconsistent getting the ball upcourt. The Rams only scored 12 points in the entire half, while Northwood (1-4) took advantage of second and third chances at baskets to cruise to a victory.
"We're playing our sixth game in 12 days," Rockville Coach G.J. Kissal said. "Clearly we're gassed, and also decimated by injuries and illness, and it showed in the second half...The break is going to be huge for us."
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The loss spoiled the performance of DeAndre Kelly, who scored 14 points, 10 of those coming in the first half. He went on a personal 8-0 run against the Gladiators, including scoring the first six points of the second quarter. Ryan Lamberg also added 11, including some key three-pointers, to keep the game from getting too far out of hand in the second half.
The pair were topped by a Gladiator duo however. Gary Vaughn scored 19 for Northwood, including three baskets from well behind the three-point arc. Just as important as Vaughn was Lenjo Kilo, who dominated the paint. He scored 16, many of those coming off of second-chance baskets.
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"They [Northwood] played well and deserved to win," Kissal said. "Coach Dickens did a great job. It's been a rivalry for years and will continue to be one. It's always a good game when we play them."
The team faces their next test in the Patriot Roundball Classic, which will be held at Wootton High School. They will compete with Wootton, The Heights, Watkins Mill and Avalon on Dec. 29-30.
