Rochester, Rochester Hills

Rochester High boys basketball falls in quarterfinal

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Rochester High's Manny Mendoza takes a jumper in a game earlier this season. The Falcons' season came to a close, losing to Detroit Southeastern 54-49 in a Class A quarterfinal. Photo by Donna Agusti Rochester High's Manny Mendoza takes a jumper in a game earlier this season. The Falcons' season came to a close, losing to Detroit Southeastern 54-49 in a Class A quarterfinal.

DETROIT — Rochester High boys basketball fell to Detroit Southeastern in its Class A quarterfinal March 19 in Detroit.

The Falcons lost 54-49.

The Jungaleers used a 7-2 run to open the fourth quarter to take and keep the lead. Heading into the frame, the squads were tied at 29.

"We executed at the perfect time," Southeastern coach George Ward said. "Those guys came out big tonight."

Rochester trailed by as many as nine points with under four minutes remaining and were able to cut the lead to three points with seven seconds left, but were unable to get any closer.

"Give them all the credit in the world," Rochester coach John Pleasant said of Southeastern. "They hit shots to start the fourth quarter."

Southeastern led most of the game, but the Falcons were always in striking distance. The Jungaleers were up two points after the first and one point at halftime, before finding their touch to begin the final eight minutes.

Southeastern goes to 20-5 overall and plays Saginaw High at 2:50 p.m. March 22 in the Class A semifinal at Michigan State University.

Rochester finishes the season 21-5.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.