Clarke Boys Basketball Falls Hard to Roosevelt

The Rams fell in a league game on the road to the Roosevelt Roughriders on Tuesday night by a score of 73-45.

Matt Hutchinson scored a game-high 20 points for the Roughriders (3-8) and Mike Martiello led the Rams (1-8) with 14 points.

Both teams started off quickly on the offensive end, scoring a combined 26 points in just the first three minutes. After a timeout by Clarke, Roosevelt used a full-court press to force nine turnovers in the opening frame alone. The Roughriders extended the lead to go up 30-17 after eight minutes.

Clarke fought tough to try and cut into the lead, but Roosevelt used their home-court advantage to further extend their lead to 22 points and eventually head into halftime with a commanding 46-26 lead.

The start of the third quarter was similar to the opening minutes of the game. Clarke scored on their first four possessions of the half for a combined 10 points. However, Roosevelt outdid them again, scoring on their first five opportunities for 11 quick points. A lay up by Hutchinson at the buzzer put the Roughriders up 64-43 after three quarters.

With much of the substitutes on the court in the final quarter with the game all but won, Roosevelt outscored Clarke 9-2 to wrap up their big league win and third overall of the year by 28 points.

Along with Hutchinsons’ 20 points, Shaquille Hansen added 18 points and Terrence Greer scored 15 for Roosevelt. The defense was key in the win as well as the Roughriders forced 25 turnovers while committing just 10 of their own.

Martiello was the lone Clarke player to reach double figures with his 14 points. Joe Falgiano put up eight points and Joey Fusco scored seven in the losing effort.

Clarke will try to rebound from the tough loss as they host a talented Mineola team on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score

Team…………1…..2…..3…..4   -   F

Clarke……….17….9…..17….2…..45

Roosevelt….30…16….18….9…..73

C: Martiello 14, Mobyed 2, Appell 6, Fusco 7, Fogarty 2, Buffolino 1, Buttgereit 5, Falgiano 8. Totals: 45; R: Hutchinson 20, Parker 2, Greer 15, Hansen 18, Ham 7, Ware 11. Totals: 73. Three-Pointers: C: Falgiano 2, Fusco 1, Appell 1, Martiello 1; R: Hutchinson 4, Hansen 3, Ham 1.