Rocky showed determination down the stretch

(Editor's Note: This story was updated to include the time and location of the semi-final game.)
It isn't easy to win a game when you've been beat for a little more than three quarters. But that is what Rocky Grove did Friday night in Oil City. In the opening round of the District 10 class AA bracket, the Orioles took on Mercer, a team they beat twice this season. The Mustangs came out looking like those two losses were just learning exercises for them and they now knew how to beat this strong Rocky Grove squad.

And they did look that way.

They were stealing the ball, forcing the Grove into off-balanced shots and sinking the shots they needed... until the fourth quarter. That is when the Orioles stormed back. And most importantly, when it came time to sink free-throws they did. It was a testament to not giving up, to staying focused on their game and putting it on the line when it mattered most.

D'Andre Whitman got five of his 12 in the clutches of clutch free-throws to put the game out of reach for the Mustangs in the fourth.

​It was the difference.
Rocky Grove didn't really beat Mercer by seven points - it was a dead-even game, except the free throws made all the difference in the end. The score finished at 51-44 ending the Mustang's season.

Brett Stevenson was game-high scorer with 14 points, mostly gotten from behind the three-point arc. Reece Henderson was also his usual solid self pouring in 12.

Rocky Grove (18-5) moves on to face West Middlesex who is 13-10 on the season after they dumped Saegertown from postseason 73-58. They will square off Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Meadville High School.

See more photos below and at https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p728138776

Franklin also advanced by trouncing Erie First Christian 94-18. Photos from that game will be posted tomorrow.

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