Rage 7s Get Tough Draw, Battle With Solid Teams From Rochester, Syracuse Area

In its first AAU tournament of the spring, the Southern Tier Rage 7s met some stiff competition in the Cortland Shootout.

In Game 1, Rage fell behind early (13-7) but fought back and was tied at halftime (22-22) against RAP Rye of Rochester. Rage led 27-24 early in the second half, but RAP Rye eventually pulled away for a 51-38 win.

In Game 2, Rage faced a very efficient, sharp-shooting Eastside team from Rochester, which ran out to an 11-0 lead. It was 18-2 before Rage went on a mini-run (9-8) to end the first half with Eastside leading 26-11. Eastside maintained a steady advantage throughout the second half, combining tough inside play with some great outside shooting to win it 51-27.

Game 3 put Rage against the eventual tournament champion, the Coker's Phenoms, out of the Syracuse area. Rage worked to slow the speed demons early and trailed just 5-3 six minutes into the game, but the Phenoms' overall game was too much as they were able build a commanding lead (47-19) by halftime. Rage held its own in the second half, as Coker's outscored Rage just 17-15 after halftime for a 64-34 win.

An interesting read about the Coker's Phenoms: A program recently caught cheating on age/grade eligibility.

More about Coker's Phenoms: Their head coach is pictured here, in the orange.

Saturday, March 19
At Tompkins Cortland Community College
Game 1
RAP Rye -- 22 - 29 -- 51
ST RAGE -- 22 - 16 -- 38

Stats:
* Jake Thompson: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks (2-4 FT) (one 3-pointer)
* Roberto Jensen: 9 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound (one 3-pointer)
* Caleb Nichols: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal (1-2 FT)
* Trevor Borchardt: 4 points, 7 rebounds, 7 blocks
* Nate Gaster: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
* Luke Day: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists (2-2 FT)
* Brady Harrington: 2 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
* Wyatt Whitmore: 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
* Joe Miranda: 2 rebounds, 1 steal (0-2 FT)
* Caleb Link: 1 rebound
* Team free throws: 5-for-10
* RAP Rye free throws: 10-for-17

Saturday, March 19
At Cortland State - Lusk Field House
Game 2
ST RAGE -- 11 - 16 -- 27
Eastside -- 26 - 25 -- 51

Stats:
* Trevor Borchardt: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks (0-2 FT)
* Nate Gaster: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal (2-4 FT) (fouled out)
* Brady Harrington: 4 points, 3 rebounds
* Roberto Jensen: 3 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound (one 3-pointer)
* Wyatt Whitmore: 2 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist (2-3 FT)
* Joe Miranda: 2 points, 9 rebounds (2-4 FT)
* Caleb Link: 2 points, 1 rebound (0-3 FT)
* Caleb Nichols: 2 rebounds
* Luke Day: 2 rebounds
* Team free throws: 6-for-16
* Eastside free throws: 3-for-6

Sunday, March 20
At Cortland State - Park Center
Game 3
Coker's -- 47 - 17 -- 64
ST RAGE -- 19 - 15 -- 34

Stats:
* Trevor Borchardt: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (1-1 FT)
* Jake Thompson: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block (1-2 FT) (one 3-pointer)
* Wyatt Whitmore: 7 points, 1 rebound (1-2 FT)
* Nate Gaster: 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist (1-5 FT)
* Roberto Jensen: 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist (3-6 FT)
* Joe Miranda: 2 points, 2 rebounds
* Caleb Link: 2 points, 1 steal (2-4 FT)
* Brady Harrington: 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
* Luke Day: 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
* Caleb Nichols: 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
* Team free throws: 9-for-20
* Coke free throws: 4-for-13

Cortland Shootout Totals
Points
23 - Trevor Borchardt
22 - Jake Thompson
15 - Roberto Jensen
13 - Nate Gaster
9 - Wyatt Whitmore
7 - Caleb Nichols
6 - Brady Harrington
4 - Caleb Link
4 - Joe Miranda
2 - Luke Day

Rebounds
23 - Trevor Borchardt
19 - Wyatt Whitmore
17 - Jake Thompson
13 - Joe Miranda
10 - Nate Gaster
8 - Luke Day
8 - Brady Harrington
5 - Caleb Nichols
3 - Roberto Jensen
2 - Caleb Link

Assists
6 - Brady Harrington
5 - Roberto Jensen
4 - Luke Day
4 - Jake Thompson
2 - Nate Gaster
2 - Caleb Nichols
2 - Wyatt Whitmore
1 - Trevor Borchardt

Steals
8 - Nate Gaster
3 - Brady Harrington
3 - Wyatt Whitmore
2 - Trevor Borchardt
2 - Caleb Nichols
1 - Luke Day
1 - Caleb Link
1 - Joe Miranda

Blocked Shots
9 - Trevor Borchardt
3 - Jake Thompson
1 - Nate Gaster
1 - Wyatt Whitmore