The Rockets beat the Wootton Patriots at home 64-49, as they try to gain momentum heading into the last month of the season. 

Although the Rockets did not get the first possession of the game, they still got off to a hot start. Despite Wootton’s Will Margarites scoring the first basket of the game, senior Will Davenport preceded to score the Rockets first six points of the game. A few minutes later after key shots by Jabril Robinson, Devin Liyanamana, Shaq Samuels, the Patriots called a timeout with the score at 15-7.

Even though the Rockets were doing well, the Patriots had some answers: an ‘and-one’ by guard Hubert Bayigamba and a three by Normand Bayigamba, to cut the Rockets lead to 2. After the Rockets called a timeout with 17 seconds left in the first quarter, the Rockets got the ball and junior Ronnie Davis hit a three at the buzzer to end the first with the Rockets leading 20-15.

In the second quarter, the Rockets continued to come out firing, despite the Patriots cutting the deficit to 3 points. The team got hot as they went on a 9-0 run, making 3 straight three pointers, 2 by senior Eric Hall and the other from senior Samaj Smith, causing Wootton to call another timeout. 

Even though the offense production for the Rockets did cool down, several defensive plays helped limit the Patriots to only 12 points in the second quarter. After late threes by Normand Bayigamba and Miller Romm, the score was 37-27 Rockets going into halftime.
The Rockets started off the third quarter with a three by Robinson, though it was matched by Jayden Rowe-Perry with a three at the other end. The Rockets continued to play stellar defense and once again only allowed 12 points the entire quarter. An ‘and-one’ by guard Hayden Lunenfeld and shots by Powel, Samuels, and Liyanama helped extend the Rockets lead to 53-39 at the end of the third.

The Rockets went into the fourth quarter and Liyanaman quickly scored the first two points for the Rockets. The team worked together to force turnovers and convert off their defensive plays. Even though the Patriots tried to make a comeback, the deficit proved to be too great and the Rockets came out with a convincing 64-49 win.