Bowers scores 23 in Zebra loss to Logansport

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Drew Bowers scored a game-high 23 points, but the Rochester boys basketball team dropped a 58-43 decision to visiting Logansport at the RHS gym Saturday.

Logansport improved to 3-2. Rochester dropped their second game in as many days and fell to 2-2.

Relying on creativity and a quick first step to get open in the lane, Bowers scored on a variety of pullup jumpers and off-balance shots. He carried the Zebra offense in the second half, scoring 19 of their final 23 points.

Rochester had leads of 5-0 and 13-8 in the first quarter and still led 20-16 before Logansport went on a 18-5 run to close out the first half and claim a 34-25 halftime lead. Much of the run occurred with junior forward Owen Prater on the bench in foul trouble.

Rochester would get within 47-41 on a Bowers basket in transition and four Bowers free throws, but Logansport would close the game on an 11-2 run over the final 4:36.

Jacob Taylor led the Berries with 21 points, and Loran Taylor and Chrisanthony DelValle added 12 each.

DelValle went on a personal 7-0 run in the second quarter, helping the Berries sprout a 32-24 lead.

In addition to Prater, Carson Paulik and Bryce Baugher also picked up their second fouls in the second quarter.

“That first quarter was effective for us,” Rochester coach Rob Malchow said. “Then we got into foul trouble. We had a bunch of guys with two fouls, and our bench … you want to be able to plug them in in good situations, but when you’ve got to plug them in and leave them in, that can wear on your ability to compete the way you want.”

Malchow spoke of “physicality” being a factor in Logansport’s favor. Rochester had no senior starters while Logansport had three. DelValle is a stocky, 5-11, junior point guard.

“What we’re going through right now, we’re in a stretch where we have a bunch of juniors and sophomores playing against seniors,” Malchow said. “Number 24 for them (DelValle), the boy is strong. Number 5 (Jacob Taylor) – strong.”

Malchow related a postgame conversation he had with junior forward Tanner Reinartz, who had four points combined against North Judson and Logansport for the weekend after averaging nine points per game through his first two games.

“So there’s a process here,” Malchow said. “I was just telling him back in ‘20, and T’s deal as he’s learning is this is his first season even though it’s his third varsity (season) where he’s now the guy that oher teams are trying to stop. Previously, he was playing with Paul (Leasure). Brock (Bowers) would get hot some games. And it allowed him to have open looks that were easier. So we’re at a point where it’s a learning curve. It’s a process. T’s going to figure out how other teams are going to key on him, and he can still makes plays he wants to make. Guys like Drew; guys like Bryce (Baugher); guys like Robert (Bozzo), who didn’t play last season … this is a whole new speed, physicality and everything.

“Now like I told them, hang in there. Trust us. Back in ‘20, we snuck one out in the sectional because those juniors became seniors in March. I’m not saying it will happen, but it’s what you try to strive for based on our experience of who we are as a program, what we believe in and these kids, and if these kids just continue to stay with the program and the process, then I think we can take them along.”

Rochester has lost the last 13 meetings with Logansport. Their last win over them came on Feb. 26, 2010.

In the JV game, Rochester prevailed 48-39 behind 15 points from Grant Clark and 10 from Jonas Kiser. Jack Reffett added nine, Hunter Honkomp had eight, and Davis Renie and Brady Coleman had three each.

Logansport 58, Rochester 43

LOGANSPORT (58) (3-2)

Isaac Russell 3 1-1 8, Chrisanthony DelValle 5 1-3 12, Cooper Smith 1 0-0 2, Jacob Taylor 9 1-2 21, Loran Taylor 6 0-0 12, Carson Dubes 0 2-2 2, Aryan Patel 0 0-0 0, Cayden Walker 0 1-2 1, Deagan Kitchel 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 24 6-10 58

ROCHESTER (43) (2-2)

Drew Bowers 9 5-6 23, Carson Paulik 3 0-1 7, Tanner Reinartz 1 0-0 2, Owen Prater 4 0-0 8, Bryce Baugher 0 0-0 0, Luke Malchow 0 0-0 0, Hunter Honkomp 0 0-0 0, Robert Bozzo 1 0-0 3, Grant Clark 0 0-0 0, Jack Reffett 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 18 5-7 43

Three-point field goals:

Logansport 4 (J. Taylor 2, DelValle, Russell),

Rochester 2 (Paulik, Bozzo)

Total fouls: Logansport 13, Rochester 143

Turnovers: Logansport 16, Rochester 14

Score by quarters

Logansport 14 20 13 11 – 58

Rochester 13 12 10 8 – 43