The Rochester Rockets were looking to secure another CS8 home win Tuesday night as they welcomed Chatham, but the game did not start at the pace many expected.
The Rockets came out slow and the first half turned into a physical, gritty battle. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm, and the tempo stayed low as turnovers and missed opportunities made for a sloppy but competitive opening half.
Everything changed after the break.
Sophomore standout Reece Gade put the Rockets on his back and ignited the run that broke the game open. Gade drilled a clutch three-pointer to swing the momentum, then followed it up with a huge block off the backboard on the defensive end. Moments later, he attacked the basket, finished through contact, and converted the and-one, bringing the crowd to its feet and fully shifting control to Rochester.
From there, the Rockets never looked back.
Eli Cox helped close the door, knocking down timely shots and leading the offensive push as Rochester began to separate. The defensive pressure tightened, the pace picked up, and the Rockets turned a close, grind-it-out contest into a commanding second-half performance.
Rochester outscored Chatham by a wide margin in the final two quarters and cruised to a 53–28 CS8 victory.
After the game, Head Coach Tony Gavin spoke about the depth and balance of his roster, noting that this Rockets team is so deep that “we could have nine guys that could be starters on most teams.” That depth showed as Rochester wore Chatham down and continued to rotate fresh players without losing intensity.
With another conference win in hand, the Rockets continue to look like a team hitting its stride — deep, confident, and rolling at the right time.
Coach Gavin talks win over Chatham
Reece Gade talks win over Chatham Glenwood.