Rameau gets 30-piece in Ravenscroft's 78-71 victory in City of Oaks Showcase

By: Zachary Adams

1/12/19

RALEIGH, NC — Ravenscroft (10-10) used a fast start to down Athens Drive (11-4) by seven, 78-71, on Saturday afternoon at Phenom’s City of Oaks Showcase.

Ravenscroft senior Jake Van der Heijden showed off his shooter’s touch early and often. The Bucknell commit would knock down not one, not two, but three triples in the opening eight minutes. Van der Heijden was not the only Raven scoring the rock. Leading scorer LucRichard Rameau was having his way with the Jaguar defense by getting easy bucket after easy bucket at the rim. Van der Heijden and Rameau combined for 15 first quarter points. Athens Drive came to the TAR Gymnasium Saturday with just seven players in uniform. The lack of depth and lack of length proved costly, especially early on defensively. Some positive for Athens Drive on the offensive end came when DJ Robertson popped a corner three at the 4:51 mark in the frame and when Jonah Milchuck recorded two well-earned baskets in the post. Ravenscroft used a 10-2 start to take the 19-11 lead after one.

The Ravens continued to fly high in the second quarter. Jake Van der Heijden started the frame off with another three from the corner; only difference being that this one was contested. They do say “shooter’s shoot”, right? Van der Heijden’s fourth three of the game had Ravenscroft doubling up Athens Drive at 22-11. Speaking of shooters, Athens senior Chase Graham answered back with a three of his own. Graham would take the crosscourt feed from backcourt DJ Robertson and would connect from way downtown. Ravenscroft led 25-16 with 5:09 to play in the second after Graham’s three pointer. Ravenscroft tried to set up a few dunk attempts in the first quarter, all failed. 6’7” junior Brady O’Connell would take matters into his own hands. The southpaw took the rock right down broadway, rose up, and threw the left handed hammer down with 4:33 to go before half. After Athens’ Mickey Frost drained a three with 1:24 remaining in the second, Ravenscroft closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to go up 39-24 at halftime.

Mickey Frost came out of intermission with a purpose for the Jaguars. Frost tallied five quick third quarter points the cut Ravenscroft’s lead down to 10, 41-31, with 4:46 to play in the third quarter. After Jake Van der Heijden got in foul trouble, LucRichard Rameau would takeover for the Ravens. Rameau continued to carve through the Jaguar defense, as he poured in a team-high eight points in the third quarter. Athens’ Chase Graham would knock down his second three of the game to cut the Ravens’ lead to 13. That advantage would remain and after three quarters, Ravenscroft led Athens Drive 53-40.

Then, both offenses would erupt. There was a combined 56 points scoring in the final eight minutes of the game. After a Brady O’Connell drive and bucket, Ravenscroft called timeout leading 57-42 with 6:49 remaining. Out of the Ravenscroft timeout, Athens’ Jonah Milchuck would knock down back-to-back threes from the corner. The Athens Drive 3-point party was not over in the fourth. Northern Kentucky commit DJ Robertson would get a three to rattle home with 4:14 to go. Ravenscroft only led by 11 at that point, 64-53. If there is one thing we learned about this Athens Drive today, it’s that they never give up. Despite only having seven players and trailing wire to wire, the Jaguars only lost by single digits after nearly trailing by 20 early in the second half. Ravenscroft went 13 of 15 from the line in the fourth quarter to ice the 78-71 victory.

LucRichard Rameau dropped 30 points to lead Ravenscroft. 19 of Rameau’s 30 came in the second half. Jake Van der Heijden added 19 points for the Ravens, including 5 made three’s. DJ Robertson scored a game-high 32 points to lead Athens Drive. 27 of Robertson’s 32 were scored in the second half.

Ravenscroft will take the floor again on Tuesday at North Raleigh Christian Academy. Athens Drive will be back on the road next Friday against Tri-6 Conference foe, Panther Creek.