By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For six-plus years the Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS) boys’ basketball team has spent its existence on the road. Other than the stray occurrences when they had the designation of “home team” while playing on a neutral court either during a regular-season tournament or as No. 1 seed in last year’s Class C1 tournament, the Racers have always been visitors.
That situation changed on Tuesday night when RACS christened its new gymnasium.
On Friday, the Racers got comfortable in their new home.
Joe Aiken led five in double figures as Rochester Academy (No. 13 NYSSWA Class C) improved its record to 13-0 with a 75-51 victory over C.G. Finney in Private-Parochial League action, Friday night.
“It’s starting to feel like home,” said RACS head coach Rob Cocilova who has guided the program since its inception. “It’s nice to finally have a place that we call ours, that we practice in every day. Guys are getting shots at different spots in practice and I’m seeing them hit from those spots in games.”
On Tuesday in an 87-75 victory over Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter Charter School, the Racers connected on just 2-of-19 attempts from behind the 3-point arc.
Four different players found the range from distance in the third quarter Friday night when the Racers connected on seven triples to pull away from a single-digit game.
“We had a two-week break, and it was the first night in our home gym, we were a little anxious to shoot it.,” Cocilova said when referring to the previous contest. “Tonight, we kinda settled in and it was a little bit better of a shooting night for us. I think it’s only going to get better.”
Leading by eight at halftime, the Racers needed little more than two minutes to make it a double-digit advantage that they did not surrender.
Christian Coleman buried a corner three to spark the offense.
“Christian Coleman has shot 300 threes in that corner this week alone,” Cocilova said. “We’re practicing them, and now we’re taking them in the game.”
Two possessions later, Aiken hit his first of three triples in the stanza. By the time the horn sounded for the end of the quarter, Coleman had added another while Evariste Omebe and Cam Coleman also connected from long range.
RACS led 58-36.
“We let our kids shoot. We let them play. We know we’re a good shooting team, and we just got to take them. We miss a couple; we keep at ‘em.”
Evariste Omebe connects from distance. RACS 43-27. @SecVBBasketball pic.twitter.com/yuCxCCOD50
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 28, 2023
When the Racers weren’t getting comfortable behind the 3-point arc, they were busy pressuring their guests, forcing 13 first-half turnovers.
Turning defense into offense: Kam McDonald gets Joe Aiken on the leak out. RACS 52-34. pic.twitter.com/EF7zdud9mY
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 28, 2023
“They say pressure bursts pipes, and that’s what we want to do,” Cocilova said. “That’s our motto. We say it all the time. We want that pressure. We want them to feel it.
“They were moving around in the first half and caught us sleeping in the back a little bit. Credit to Joe (Finney head coach Marchand). He’s a great coach. They exploited us in the back a little bit, but we like to extend it. We want them to feel the pressure. The pressure is key.”
True to their nickname, the Racers got out in the open floor and converted those turnovers into points at the opposite end.
“They run for each other,” Cocilova said of his team. “We get a turnover, we run. We get a rebound, we run…Our guys find each other. We don’t want to dribble the ball out. We don’t want to hear the sound of the dribble. We want to make a nice pass and leak out. Hopefully, rebound with four and leak out one or rebound with three and leak out two. That’s what we try to do and we’ve been really successful. That has a lot to do with it.”
Kam McDonald grabs the carom and leads Joe Aikens for two. pic.twitter.com/0Ozu78V2Ni
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 28, 2023
Aiken finished with 21 points. McDonald had 14 to go with 10 assists and eight steals. Coleman scored 10 and grabbed 10 boards. Omebe had 10 points and nine rebounds. Cam Miller accounted for 10 points and six rebounds. Antonio Rodriguez (5), Perry Washington (3) and Keverne Langhorne (2) rounded out the scoring for RACS.
Finney’s Ethan Krog hit four 3-pointers and led the Falcons’ offense with 18 points. Nick Pasquantonio added 10, and Braelen Broome had eight points. Josh Suarez (5), Tyus Rhodes (4), Mikey Crandall (3), Simon Kovar (2) and Jacob Giesy (1) also scored for Finney.
Ethan Krog gets Finney on the board. Rochester Academy leads early 4-3. pic.twitter.com/J7XPBoO3Yl
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 28, 2023
Previously found in the city’s 19th Ward, Rochester Academy Charter School is now located at 1757 Latta Road (near Mt. Read Boulevard) on the campus of the former Mother of Sorrows grammar school. Prior to the opening of their new gym, the Racers practiced at St. Monica’s on Genesee Street.
RACS finished 19-1 a year ago with its only loss coming to Avon in the Class C1 finals.
Evariste Omebe grabs the loose ball and finishes. All smiles for Rochester Academy. Racers lead 68-47. pic.twitter.com/k7cnn5dVo5
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) January 28, 2023
“Home sweet home, that’s what they say,” Cocilova said with a smile. “I’m finally understanding it.
“We’ve never had a home in seven years. We’ve never had a home game. It’s hard winning on the road. We’ve been able to do that. Now it feels like home.”
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