Rogers stays unbeaten in City League

Rogers' Clemmye Owens gets around Start's Sam Young. Owens finished with 18 points. THE BLADE/LORI KING Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The City League is quickly finding out how much of a headache it is to deal with the team favored to come out on top of the league at the end of the season.

Rogers remained undefeated in City League play by streaking to a 72-57 victory over Start on Tuesday night on the Spartans home court.

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Clemmye Owens led the way by scoring a game-high 18 points, including 13 in the second half for the Rams (4-1, 3-0 CL).

Kenneth Walker added 11 points while Tribune Dailey scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Dailey scored all of his points in the fourth quarter to help Rogers outscore Start 26-21 during the final period.

The Rams led the Spartans (3-2, 1-2) by as many as 18 points in the second half.

"When we want to play we're the toughest thing around here," Rogers coach Earl Morris said of the Rams.

Start's Demond Crisp scored a team-high 12 points while Dion Ivery and Scott Hicks added 10 points apiece.

"We've got a lot to work on, yet," Start coach Gil Guerrero said. "I wanted to see us work the ball a little more and try to box out on the boards, but it didn't look like we boxed out very well, especially in the first half when they got nine offensive rebounds. We'll keep working and see what happens.

"Give Rogers credit they came out and played tough."

The Rams forced the Spartans into a handful of turnovers in the first half to help take a 34-26 lead into the break. Many of the Rams' points in the first half came from close range from either fastbreaks or off of offensive rebound putbacks. They were relentless around the basket on both end of the floor.

Rogers was 19-of-29 from the foul line while Start sank only 7-of-19 free throws.

The Spartans were 3-of-8 from the foul line in the first half, which allowed for the Rams to gradually pull away and take an eight-point advantage into halftime.

"If you don't knock them down at the free-throw line you're going to be in trouble," Guerrero said. "It's just like a turnover.

"If we don't make free throws and they go down and score it's like a turnover."

Rogers had plenty of contributors in the first half with Walker leading the way by scoring nine of his points before the break. Eight Rams scored at least two points before halftime and the Rams led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter.

Start's Scott Hicks leaps for a basket while being guarded by Rogers' DeVonte Pratt. Hicks had 10 points in the loss. THE BLADE/LORI KING Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Start opened the second half with an 8-2 run and cut Rogers' lead to two points when Ivery scored to make it a 36-34 contest with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

However, Rogers responded by going on an 8-2 run of its own to take a 46-36 lead into the final period.

The Rams continued to pull away by opening the fourth quarter with a 7-0 spurt and led 53-36 when Dailey sank a pair of foul shots with 6:21 left in the game. The Rams were well on their way to remaining undefeated in league play.

"I think we came out kind of slow and got better," Owens said.

"That's the type of team we are. We always pick it up in the second half."

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302, or on Twitter @demmonsblade.