Rocori flexes in win over Richfield

Its no secret that I'm not a fan of The Flex. Usually referenced here as "The world's WORST offense", today is the 1 exception to that rule as I make the trip to Richfield to watch Rocori run it all day. There's nobody I see who's more committed to it and executes it better than they do and I actually enjoy watching them run it. Some interesting Rocori notes. Bob Brink is the only coach they've ever had and I learned today that it actually means something. It comes from ROckville, COld Spring and RIchmond. Not up there with MACCRAY or BOLD or NRHEG in terms of alphabet soup, but interesting anyway.

Renard Robinson with back to back buckets for Richfield early and we're tied at 6 2:15 into the game. But the flex is taking its toll as Rocori goes on a 12-2 run over the next 4 minutes. Richfield counters with a 9-2 run of their own in 2:20 to cut the Rocori lead to 20-17. Jay Sewer with a triple and a steal for a layup in the run. Zach Hinkemeyer wiht a layup and then a steal for 2 to start a 9-0 Rocori run. Rocori up 29-17 with 7:35 left in the half. Back and forth to end the half and Rocori takes a 38-26 lead to the break. 5'11 Brent Lashinski with 6 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Rausch with 8 points to lead Rocori. Jay Sewer with 7 points to lead Richfield. Mike Jones good minutes with 6 points off the bench for Richfield.

Rocori gets the 1st 5 of the half against a 2-3 halfcourt trap for a 17 point lead with 16 minutes left. Renard Robinson then steps up large. 2 FTs and a pair of putbacks followed by a 3 point play for a 9-0 Robinson run. 43-35 Rocori leads with 13:14 left and they need a timeout. Back to back Rocori buckets push the lead back to 12 but Richfield won't go away. Robinson with another 3 point play and sophomore Daron Garvis off the bench with consecutive triples. Robinson then with a steal for 2 and then 1 of 2 free throws with 5:40 remaining. 52-50 Rocori after a 12-2 Richfield run. Robinson out and you have to wonder why. Rocori then runs a modified version of their flex for 3:30 without a stop in play. Finally Ben Rausch goes baseline and gets blocked and Richfield has the defensive stop and momentum with 2 minutes left. Now Robinson sitting out looks like a stroke of genius. Time Richfield and everybody gets to catch their breath. Sewer misses a 3 with 1:30. Rocori turns it over, but Garvis misses a bunny and Robinson can't putback the miss. Willenbring snares the board with 1 minute left and Rocori still hanging on 52-50. Rausch fouled at 38.1 and he misses the front end. Richfield with another chance but Adam Backes steals a Garvis pass and goes the distance for 2 and the foul. 55-50 Rocori with 16.6 left. Jay Sewer with a quick 3 with 10.1 left, but Willenbring with 2 free throws to seal it with 6.8 left. Rocori wins 57-53.

For Richfield, Renard Robinson with 15 of his 20 in the 2nd half along with 6 rebounds. Jay Sewer with 3 triples and 13 points. Phillip Freeman held to 5 points on only 2-11 shooting on my sheet. Richfield now 13-6. They travel to Tartan on Thursday. Any loss for Richfield tough as they try to get home seed in brutal section 2AAAA (7 teams above .500). That will be a difficult section to seed.

For Rocori, don't look now but they've won 5 in a row with this win and a win over a good Staples-Motley team. They have 4 winnable games coming up too. Senior Adam Backes with 15 points to lead the Spartans. Scott Willenbring with 10 points (3-6 FG) and 8 rebounds. Ben Rausch with 10 points. Very balanced offense with the flex. They return 3 starters (including Willenbring) next year along with freshman reserve Nathan Meyer who looks like he could turn out to be a Willenbring clone.