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Posted by: oberhaus Feb 6 2010, 11:48 AM

Pemberville: In terms of rivalries, this one ranks up there with the best. Its the Browns vs Steelers, OSU vs Michigan, Texas vs Oklahoma, Yankees vs Red Sox, just on a smaller scale. Elmwood vs Eastwood is heated rivalry no matter what sport we talk about. It just so happens that in Basketball we get to enjoy this twice.

This was the second match up between Eastwood and Elmwood this season. The first was won by the Royals 54-44 at Elmwood. Last nghts game was even closer and more heated.

The gym at Eastwood was rocking right from the start. Both student sections were there in force and very spirited. The pep band was blaring. It was everything you expect from a rivalry game.

When looking at the two teams this year there is one huge difference...Size. Eastwood has it and Elmwood doesn't. The Eagles start 6'8, 6'6, and 6'5 while the Royals don't have a player over 6'2. This size difference played a big part of this game.

From the tip it was evident that Elmwood was going to strugl in the paint. Elmwoods fast paced pressure defense caused 6 first quarter turnovers but shooting 6-16 in the quarter hurt the Royals. 7 of those misses were in the paint and many from the hand of 6'8 senior Clay Rolf. With that said, Elmwood still managed a 12-8 lead at the buzzer.

More pressure from the Royals caused another 7 Eastwood TO's in the 2nd quarter. And while the Eagles shot nearly 50% in the first half, they still had to rely on Royal misses and blocks to stay in the game. Elmwood shot just 7-23 in the 2nd, but still held a 24-20 halftime lead. Elmwood committed 3 first half turnovers to Eastwood 13.

Jay Hannah and Mike Huettner led Elmwood with 5 points.

Clay Rolf paced Eastwood with 10 and Clayton Ruch added 6.

Fast paced and bad shooting was the 3rd quarter theme. Eastwood 4-14 and Elmwood 4-12. But the Eagles were able to pull a couple points closer after the third. 35-33 Royals after 3.

Eastwood was able to grab its first lead since the 1st quarter with 6:24 left in the game. The Eagles were able to go up by 4 but Elmwood battled back to hold a 40-39 lead. With Eastwood up 44-42, Huettner came flying in from the perimeter to get a rebound and bucket to send the game into OT.

Eastwood was able to outscore Elmwood 14-8 in the OT period, all without Rolf who fouled out with 1 minute to play in regulation. The Eagles were able to score the last 6 points to get the 58-52 victory.

Clay Rolf led Eastwood with 18. Ruch added 13 and Nick Schmeltz tossed in 11.

Hannah led Elmwood with 12 points. TJ Waldock added 10.

Elmwood falls to 8-7 (6-3 SLL) while Eastwood improvs to 11-4 (8-1 SLL).