Rootstown’s (left to right) Carson Hayn, Blake Mullaly, assistant Adam Whitacre, assistant Tom Jenior, Mason Lisi and Nigel Wright watch from the bench.
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By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The wave of emotions that are so closely associated with season openers, where excitement meets nerves and anxiety, were all quickly turned to pure adrenaline on Friday for the Rootstown boys basketball team.

So much so that it would be difficult to imagine a faster or more dominant start than what the Rovers unleashed on the visiting Cardinal Huskies.

Rootstown buried seven of its first eight shots — two of which 3-pointers — in an electric first quarter that saw the Rovers race out to a 21-2 lead in the blink of an eye.

Rootstown’s Carson Hayn dives on the floor for a loose ball as head coach Joe Siciliano supports.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

It was an offensive avalanche that forced Cardinal into a pair of timeouts in an attempt to regroup and slow the scoreboard separation, but it turned out to be just the beginning of a dominant 75-34 win for the Rovers.

It was the most points scored by a Rovers team since the 2023-24 season (81 in a win over Ravenna on Jan 30, 2024) and just the fourth time in the last five seasons that the team scored at least 75 points.

It was also the first win, in his first try, for first-year Rootstown head coach Joe Siciliano.

“I am really, really happy with how we played tonight,” Siciliano said. “We played the team-first style that we want to play. The ball was moving, people were moving and everyone was being unselfish. We have some things we need to clean up, but overall, it was great to see them put it all together tonight.”

In total, nine different Rovers (1-0) reached the scoring column, with Blake Mullaly (25 points) and Dean Abdlrasul (20) leading the way.

The duo combined to shoot 18-for-27 in the game, with Mullaly also burying three 3-pointers. Mullaly added eight rebounds and four assists, while Abdlrasul had five rebounds.

Defensive pressure and pace of play were two other important players in the Rovers’ win.

Without applying a full-court press, Rootstown was able to dictate the tempo through fierce on-ball pressure and also an urgency to push play off missed shots.

It was not uncommon for the Rovers to transition from defense to offense within just a couple of seconds to create points.

Rootstown junior Dean Abdlrasul hangs in the air just before connecting on a transition layup.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

“We have been preaching energy. Lots of energy,” Siciliano said. “Whether we are in the half court, full court, offense, defense, we want energy everywhere and at all times.”

Some of that energy faded slightly in a more competitive second quarter (Rootstown, 15-10), but it was swiftly established again in the beginning moments of the third quarter and throughout the second half.

Rootstown outscored the Huskies (0-1) 47-15 in the second half (24-12 in the third quarter and 23-3 in the fourth quarter).

The energy that Siciliano is looking for was on full display on two signature third-quarter plays that did not even result in points. Actually, one of the plays didn’t even result in gaining possession.

And both of the plays featured Rootstown players diving and sliding across the court just for the chance at getting the ball.

Carson Hayn was the first on a ball that caromed from Cardinal’s offensive half and into the backcourt near the 28-foot line. Hayn sprinted and leapt about 10 feet from the ball as it rolled toward the sideline. He was able to secure it, not travel and give the Rovers possession at the 2:14 mark.

Less than a minute later, at 1:17, Noah Zager was the next to throw his body to the ground to try to save the ball in Cardinal’s backcourt. Zager was unsuccessful as he crashed into the front of the bleachers, but that was less important to Sicliano than his player’s effort.

“There is not a stat that tracks those kinds of plays, but they make all the difference in the world when you are talking about a mindset that you want your team to play with,” Siciliano said. “This team knows that I am watching for all of those hustle and energy plays as much as anything else we do. Those are the kinds of plays that not only generate energy, but become an identity of what our team is all about.”

Additional statistical leaders for the Rovers included Caleb Fillmore with eight points (all in the second half), Nigel Wright with 10 rebounds and Noah Zager with four points, six rebounds and four steals.

Rootstown’s Mason Lisi (3) celebrates an “and-one” layup by Dean Abdlrasul.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports