The last two Senior Night games have not worked out well for The Rock School girls basketball program.
But this time the senior class went out with a win.
Senior Audrey Roberts scored 10 first-quarter points, and four different players scored double figures, as the Lions defeated visiting Hawthorne, 77-36, on Senior Night.
It was a memorable day for both TRS assistant coach John Roberts and his daughter, Audrey, who is a senior for the Lions (10-10).
“She started here as a kindergartner, so she’s never worn anything but a Rock jersey, so it’s a special night for us, and a little bit bittersweet,” said John Roberts. “So, yeah, it’s been a good run though, it’s been a good run.”
Audrey Roberts, who joined the 1,000-point club in a 71-31 win at Trenton on Tuesday, scored 10 first-quarter points to help give the Lions a 24-4 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
“I haven’t come out hot in a while, so it felt really good to finally get one,” she said. “And it means a lot that was on Senior Night. I guess the adrenaline really helped me.”
It only took 16 seconds into the game for Roberts to score on a 3-pointer for a quick 3-0 lead. She added a steal and a layup with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter for a 9-3 lead, followed by a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 12-4 advantage with 2:44 left.
Her final bucket of the quarter came with 59 seconds left for a 19-4 lead. Although she didn’t score in the second quarter, she added five more points in the second half.
“I was missing a couple of shots, so I decided to try to get the ball to other people,” Audrey Roberts said. “So, it felt good to get everyone to score. It means a lot that we had everybody on our team score, except for one, so having everybody be able to contribute means a lot.”
TRS forced a running clock when fellow senior Marlin Tyson made 1-of-2 free throws with 2:40 left in the third quarter for a 61-26 lead.
“Audrey and Marlin, being seniors, they’ve been captains for us all year, and we really challenged the rest of the team to give an effort that they would want when they’re seniors, for their captains, and they really answered the call and started the game off,” said TRS first-year head coach Nick Roy.
Tyson, the team’s only other senior, finished the game with 10 points.
“I think I’ve played more of like, I’d say, a supporting role, just kind of filling in where I’m needed and adjusting, so to try to get some shots up tonight and to be able to score was probably one of my higher games,” she said. “It meant a lot just to be able to get recognized.”
Freshman Ruby Patterson scored a game-high 22 points. She scored seven in the first quarter and nine in the third quarter.
By then, the game was over.
Freshman London Williams scored nine of her 15 points in the second quarter as TRS took a 46-16 lead into the locker room at the half.
Tyson led the charge with a left-wing 3-ball for a 27-4 lead less than 30 seconds into the second period.
“Ruby Patterson is the best scorer in the in the area,” Roberts said. “When Audrey’s on, she’s on. We played well. London’s a really good guard. Biannca Scott, young, eighth grader, two freshmen, so it was a good night though.”
It was a proper sendoff as TRS called a timeout with 41 seconds left to bring their two seniors off the floor to a standing ovation.
“It means a lot to me,” Audrey Roberts said. “A lot of these people came to watch me, to watch her (Tyson), so having the village that raised me come out to see me play and finishing with everybody means a lot.”
Tyson, who has been a lifer at TRS, said the ovation “felt amazing.”
“I’ve been here since first grade and Audrey’s been here since kindergarten, so a lot of these people are like, are all people coming back into our lives from different points. And just to have everyone here, my volleyball teammates were here, so it was great to just see everyone and feel the love.”
Freshman Brooklyn Gillins and 8th-grader Raylen Cue each had 11 to lead Hawthorne (7-12), which will be the No. 4 seed in Monday’s FHSAA Rural District 7 Quarterfinal against No. 5 seed Bronson.
The Rock will travel to Jordan Christian Prep (Auburndale) next Saturday, Feb. 7, followed by a trip on March 2 to the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) tournament in Dayton, Tennessee.
