The Rockets Soar into the Semifinals with Win Over St. Mary’s

The electric energy permeated Moon Valley’s gymnasium Saturday night as the Rockets took on The Knights of St. Mary’s in the quarterfinals. Rockets fans showed up loud and proud to help cheer the boys on to victory. The Rockets won a close one, 74-71, advancing them on to the semifinals.

Tension rose between the two teams as the game progressed. The Knights had two technical fouls called on them in the second quarter of the game, one of which almost led to their coach being ejected. The game was physical between the two, playing close man to man coverage the whole time.

Despite ending the first quarter up by only three, Moon Valley went on a tear in the second quarter to put them up 43-27 going into the half. They opened up the third quarter with a beautifully executed play that resulted in junior Tavarus Person nailing a three-point shot, but ultimately gave St. Mary’s the opportunity to catch back up. The game came down to the final seconds, where the Rockets were able to sink their free throws following their fouls.

The boys came out with their game faces on and ready to play. Even as the #4 seed, Moon Valley was still considered the underdog to #5 St. Mary’s. To get the boys fired up and motivated, Coach Matt Elliott told the boys what a win in the quarterfinals would mean to the program’s history. “I just told them they had a great opportunity to make the final four for the first time since the year 2000,” Elliott said.

The Rockets played strong defensive in the game by blocking shots, forcing turnovers, and going for steals. Coach Elliott said that the defense, in the first half especially, played incredibly strong. “We didn’t handle things real well in the fourth quarter, as far as holding the lead and continuing to attack,” Elliott said. “We got a little hesitant in the fourth quarter and I think that led to their comeback a little bit.”

Offensively, Moon Valley was able to sink shots from all around the court. Their ability to make free throws and create plays was a crucial aspect of their win. While the team played exceptionally well as a whole, it was players like Trevor Thompson, Jok Jok and Cam’ron Davis who were able to elevate the Rocket’s level of play.

Senior Trevor Thompson had 29 points in the game and 11 rebounds. Thompson said that he felt the team played the strongest defensively. “They came back,” Thompson said. “They made a run, but we were able to get some key stops, and come down and get some key buckets.”

Jok Jok, the 6-foot-7 Junior, had 23 points and 8 rebounds. His height and agility give him the unique advantage over some of his teammates. One of those advantages is the ability to dunk the ball. “It feels good just dunking every time I get the opportunity,” Jok said. When Jok was able to make crucial plays, the crowd went wild. “It boosted up my game,” Jok said, when asked about the crowd’s energy.

Assistant Coach Carlos Contreras said that the energy level was a big part of the victory. “We had a big crowd for us, cheering for us, and the kids feed off of that,” Contreras said. The energy and support coming from their fans were a big factor that helped keep the boys in the game. “Each and every one of those people in the stands fed us energy throughout the game, especially when we needed it in the fourth quarter.”

The win wasn’t just special for the boys because it will send them to the semifinals. For the seniors especially, they get to close out not just the season, but their career at Moon Valley with one final win on their home court. Senior Cam’ron Davis, who had 7 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds, described what the night was like for him. “It was a very emotional night,” Davis said. “It’s really hard to describe. It’s a great feeling, honestly, it is.”

The Rockets will be the underdogs once again in the semifinals as they take on #1 ranked Shadow Mountain. They are just one game away from the finals, and the boys are hungry, focused and motivated for a win, but it will not come easy. Shadow Mountain just defeated Buckeye 111-43 to advance to the next round. The semifinal match will take place on Thurs, Feb 23, at 7:00 p.m. The semifinals are set to be held at Copper Canyon High School, providing a neutral site environment for both teams.