The Rochelle Hub varsity basketball team was on pace to eclipse the century mark in scoring halfway through Thursday’s Senior Night matchup against Stillman Valley.
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ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity basketball team was on pace to eclipse the century mark in scoring halfway through Thursday’s Senior Night matchup against Stillman Valley.
Rochelle flustered the one-win Cardinals with its full-court pressure, creating takeaways in the back-court setting that led to easy layups and fast break points at the rim. Behind its defensive effort and a strong shooting display from junior Carson Lewis, who sank seven 3-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points, the Hubs coasted over Stillman Valley for an 80-54 victory.
Three seniors including Eli Luxton, Jack Tracey and Austin Raleigh were recognized in a Senior Night ceremony before the game. Rochelle (9-15, 2-5 Interstate 8) also honored one senior from the varsity dance team, Addison Stewart, as well as five seniors from the varsity cheerleading team including Ella Alfano, Alexis Huerta, Kayla Ortega, Kendall Sachs and Ayla Walker.
“We came out as a team and we played at our pace,” Tracey said. “We’re doing what coach [Tim Thompson] wants us to do and if we keep doing that, then I think we can win a regional. We didn’t want to come out and play them like they were a bad team. We had to come out and play how we wanted to play. We were getting layups off the fast break and we were pushing the ball. We were swinging the ball to open teammates and we were making shots tonight.”
Lewis was a one-man flamethrower for the Hubs in the opening quarter, where the left-handed shooter drained four of his game-leading seven triples to ignite the Rochelle offense. Luxton added a 3-pointer and a pair of low-post baskets for the Hubs, who dominated the first quarter 24-8. Rochelle remained red hot from the perimeter during the second quarter, where Tracey and Lewis each canned two triples and sophomore Van Gerber added a triple of his own.
The Hubs blew away Stillman Valley in the second quarter, converting 11 field goals and outscoring the Cardinals 32-22 to command a 58-30 halftime advantage. Rochelle shot a blistering 57.1 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from 3-point land in the first half. Four Hubs finished in double figures on Thursday, with Luxton totaling 13 points and seven steals while freshman Brody Bruns recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
“We’ve been playing some of the best basketball we’ve played all year,” Tracey said. “The loss to Rock Falls was rough, but when we played Morris on Friday, that was our best game of the season. If we can continue to play like that, we’re going to have a great chance at the regional.”
Tracey added 11 points and four rebounds for the Hubs, who will host Ottawa in Interstate 8 Conference action on Saturday before traveling to face Plano on the road Monday evening. The Rochelle defense dominated Thursday’s game, forcing 27 turnovers which created 34 points on the offensive end. The Hubs drained 11 3-pointers and compiled 22 assists as a team in the win.
