Rocky road for Rockets

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

ROCK FALLS  – With a regional title in the bag, the Rock Falls boys basketball team got back to work Monday afternoon – that is, if one can call the conclusion of this particular practice work.

With a day off from school on Casimir Pulaski Day, the Rockets convened at noon for some film study, then hit Tabor Gym. The day wrapped up with some players leisurely shooting some baskets, while others worked on creative ways to dunk.

"We'd better wrap this up before somebody gets hurt," head coach Mike Winters said jokingly after Tevin Rumley and Matt Lauts attempted ill-fated stuffs.

With a Class 2A Byron Sectional semifinal against Princeton looming on Wednesday, Winters can ill afford to go into that game without a full complement of players. He's been there and done that.

Winters entered the season knowing he'd be without two seniors, Gordo Barron and Tevin Rumley, due to suspensions dating back to Week 8 of the football season. They sat out seven and 12 basketball games.

There were also a pair of injuries that happened before the Rockets tipped off Nov. 23 against Morrison.

After a 6-1 start, the Rockets (19-10) dropped five of six, virtually uncharted territory for a program used to success.

"I said it over and over again – I kept saying I still really liked our team even though we were getting beat by teams that people were surprised we were getting beat by," Winters said. "Our attitude, our mentality was always solid and positive. We kept talking about the fact our record is probably not going to be a true indicator of how good we can be."

Winters uses an eight-man rotation, which went deeper with four players out. Sophomore guard Brett Chappell was inserted into the starting lineup for the first 10 games, but is now usually the third player of the bench.

"I'll do whatever it takes to win," Chappell said. "I want to play, but playing time is not everything in the world. When I come in and play, it's something special to come in and play with these guys."

Winters appreciates that attitude from players – like seniors Andrew Cain and T.J. Teske – whose minutes increased with their teammates absent.

The tide began  to turn in the second rotation of NCIC Lincoln games. Rock Falls lost to Princeton 68-54 back on Dec. 11, a game in which Jakob Junis tried to put his team on his back by scoring 39 points. In the second meeting on Jan. 29, a 63-60 win by the Tigers, missed free throws at crunch time (1-for-5 in the fourth quarter) kept the Rockets from winning.

Rock Falls avenged losses to IVC and Kewanee, the latter one in spectacular fashion. The Boilermakers rallied for a 61-59 road win on Jan. 22. On Feb. 12, the Rockets won 76-45 at Kewanee.

Rock Falls won seven of its last eight games, with the lone blemish a 74-63 decision at Quincy on Feb. 20. The Rockets, who topped Oregon and West Carroll to win the West Carroll Regional, will hope the third time's a charm when they take on Princeton on Wednesday.

"It just took us extra long to come together because we had so many injuries and suspensions in the beginning," Junis said. "It's taken us until now, after the regional, to peak and reach our potential."

Rock Falls hasn't been totally exempt from players missing late in the season. Junior guard Shay Brown missed three games due to mononucleosis, but returned to play briefly in the regional final against West Carroll.

Brown is expected to see more minutes against Princeton. No matter who takes the court against the Tigers, he won't just be getting thrown into the fire.

"Teams that make a run deep into the postseason always have that one game where they have to deal with foul trouble or an injury," Winters said, "and somebody's got to step in and perform. I think we feel like we've been tested in every way we can be tested, and we're ready to go right now.