The Rochester Rockets hosted the South County Vipers today in a regional first-round matchup in Rochester, and the game delivered plenty of momentum swings from start to finish.
South County came out firing on all cylinders. The Lady Vipers pushed the pace early, knocking down several three-pointers and capitalizing on strong looks inside to jump out to a 13-6 lead after the first quarter. Their fast tempo continued into the second, as they refused to let Rochester settle into any rhythm.
The Rockets struggled mightily in the first half, going ice cold from beyond the arc and finding it difficult to penetrate the paint against South County’s aggressive defense. At halftime, Rochester faced a steep 30-13 deficit.
But the second half told a different story.
Rochester made key adjustments coming out of the locker room, turning up the pressure with a full-court press that made South County uncomfortable. The Rockets clawed their way back possession by possession, forcing turnovers and converting on the other end. What once was a 17-point halftime gap disappeared as Rochester battled all the way back to tie the game at 34-34.
With the momentum shifting, South County needed an answer — and they found one.
In the fourth quarter, the Vipers settled in against the press, broke it efficiently, and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities. Regaining control, South County surged ahead and pulled away late, ultimately running the Rockets out of the gym to secure the regional victory.
Delaney Farris led Rochester with 14 points in the effort, while Kinsley Heidenreich paced the Lady Vipers with 15 points.
With the win, South County advances to face one of the top teams in the state, the Pleasant Plains Girls Basketball, on Thursday in Rochester.
Callie Wagner talks win for the Vipers
Danicka Christmon hits from deep.
Alaina Stock with the dime to Cami Tinder