Kent Roosevelt’s Ryan Slouch goes up for a two-handed slam during the third quarter of Friday’s game in Kent.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

After watching a season of sluggish first halves a year ago, head coach Curtis Black challenged his Kent Roosevelt boys basketball team with new expectations.

For 2024-25, the third-year mentor wanted more from his team.

He wanted enthusiasm.

He wanted energy.

He wanted focus.

Two days after Christmas, the Rough Riders gift wrapped all of it into a near-perfect first quarter that set the tone for a dominating 60-33 non-league victory over arch-rival Ravenna on Friday.

“That’s the most energetic start in my three years of coaching. Easily,” Black said.

All five starters were involved in helping Roosevelt jump out to a 12-0 lead within the game’s first 2 minutes. Each basket pushing the Riders’ energy to another level.

Then, just after Ravenna was beginning to settle back in with back-to-back 3s that cut its deficit to 14-6, Roosevelt sewed together a series of plays that sent its home crowd into a pandemonium.

The Rough Riders’ Gavin Peeps rises for a right-handed slam on the right baseline during Friday’s first quarter.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

The first came from backup 6-foot-7 center Ryan Slocum, who corralled an offensive rebound, pivoted around a group of Ravenna defenders, and rose up for a powerful two-handed dunk from the center of the key.

Just seconds later, Gavin Peeps took an outlet pass in transition, took a couple of dribbles and rose up for a right-handed tomahawk dunk that he pushed through as he was fouled. He hit the free throw to complete the and-one.

The Rough Riders’ student section barely had time to recover from celebrating those two plays when Peeps delivered again.

The 6-foot-5 junior drove baseline, collected and rose up again for another right-handed dunk in traffic.

The sequence gave the Rough Riders (4-5) a 20-7 lead at the 1:20 mark. Furthermore, the trio of jams escalated momentum to a point of no return for the Ravens.

“Wow, that sequence was something special,” Black said. “I felt like I was out there on the court with them. That is how excited I was to see them come out and play like they did.

“I am not sure we have seen that many dunks in a quarter since Cam and Andre were here,” said Black, referencing his older brother Cameron Black II and his teammate Andre Paulk, who both graduated in 2008 and led the program to back-to-back Portage Trail Conference championships.

Ravenna’s Curtis Ross (2) and Kent Roosevelt’s EJ Churn (3) go after a rebound on Friday.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

By the end of the first quarter on Friday, Roosevelt led 23-7 powered by a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance from the floor by Peeps, who had 13 first-quarter points.

Kent Roosevelt’s Sevyn Jones blocks a shot during the second half of Friday’s game in Kent.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

“In a rivalry game, there are always going to be emotions and it is important that you find a way to channel those emotions the right way. Tonight, I think we channeled our emotions the perfect way,” Black said.

Roosevelt’s spirited play carried into the second quarter, outscoring the Ravens (2-8) 16-7 to take a commanding 39-14 lead at halftime, then extended to 56-23 going into the fourth quarter.

“With the way the holiday fell, we didn’t have a game early this week. This entire week, our sole focus has been on Ravenna. It was Ravenna week and that is how a rivalry should be. This isn’t just another game to us. In our area, there are three big rivalries, Ohio State-Michigan, Kent State-Akron and Kent-Ravenna. I think our guys felt that this week and sent a message in the first quarter that they were ready to play.”

After Peeps’ explosive first quarter, he finished with 15 points, five rebounds, three steals, a block shot and took a charge.

Riders guard Jaiden Portis releases a 3-pointer in the second quarter.
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He was joined in double figures by senior point guard Jaden Dennison, who led all scorers with 23 points. He shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Slocum, who added another two-hand dunk in the third quarter in front of the student section, finished with eight points.