Rossford trio explodes in 64-44 win over Collegiate Prep

ROSSFORD — Three Rossford seniors accounted for 58 points as the Bulldogs defeated visiting Detroit Collegiate Prep, 64-44, Saturday at George Wolfe Field House.

Jake Morrison scored 24 points, Derek Vorst scored 20 and Brenden Revels scored 14 as the Bulldogs won their fourth straight game to improve to 4-1.

The 6-foot-4 Morrison made 9-of-18 shots from the field, including 5-of-10 from three-point territory, and had a team high 15 rebounds and two steals.

The 6-10 Vorst was 7-for-14 from the floor, made 6-of-8 free throws, and was the second Bulldog to record a double-double with 10 rebounds. Vorst also had three assists and blocked two shots.

The 6-3 Revels had nine rebounds and three assists, but the biggest thing coach Brian Vorst noticed was the Bulldogs forced 12 turnovers, including six steals.

“Those guys did a great job,” coach Vorst said. “We really challenged them about being great defensively and I think we did a really nice job defensively.

“I think that defensive effort is really rolling over into the offensive side for us. We are playing hard on both ends of the floor, and Jake is so versatile, he can do everything.”

Rossford, which had only four turnovers, outscored the Panthers 15-0 in points off turnovers.

The Panthers shot just 31% (15-for-48) from the field and Rossford outrebounded Collegiate Prep 45-28, including 17 offensive boards by the Bulldogs, which outscored the Panthers 22-2 on second chance points.

However, the Bulldogs shot just 35% (23-for-66) from the floor, including 10-for-37 from three-point territory in a game that saw 69 shots from beyond the arc. The Panthers were 10-for-32.

“We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well today,” coach Vorst said. “We got great looks and I thought we had great shots, and (6-4 senior) Garette Murphree can shoot the crap out of it, and he had great looks.”

Murphree had Rossford’s other six points on two treys and senior Wes Ellison contributed defensively with two steals.

Derek Vorst, the coach’s son, and an NCAA Division I signee at Indiana State, got the rare chance to go head-to-head with someone closer to his own size, 6-9 junior Xander Wedlow.

Wedlow finished with two points, five rebounds, and he fouled out of the game. Vorst said he loved the challenge, plus he prefers playing against taller players rather than the smaller ones who are buzzing around him in the paint.

“It went well. Playing AAU has really prepared me for that over the last couple years,” Derek Vorst said.

“Frankly, I’m more comfortable against a bigger guy — I like it a little bit more. It’s a little easier to shut them down.”

Tyler Lowey, a 6-2 junior, and Kamron Jackson, a 6-3 sophomore, led Collegiate Prep by scoring 13 points each, and Lowey had five rebounds. Coach Vorst said he welcomed the opportunity to host the Panthers.

“It’s such a different style. It’s a physical style, it’s more up and down the floor, it’s more athletic, which we are not used to,” coach Vorst said.

“So, to get a win like this against this type of team is good for us because it hopefully prepares us for the tournament.”

Plus, coach Vorst has seen his kids rebound from a season opening 67-59 loss to his alma mater, Kalida, now 4-2. The Bulldogs were up 30-15 early in the third quarter, and then imploded.

“The Kalida game, I thought we did a pretty good job, we just had a letdown in the second half. Some of that was schematic,” coach Vorst said.

“This group has really elevated their game, especially on the defensive end. It all started on the defensive end.

“The kids are sharing the ball and I’m happy with how they are playing. I think a lot of that comes from Kalida — it made us focus on what we must do to make us good.”

The coach’s son, Derek, believes the win over Collegiate Prep will help the Bulldogs as they push for a Northern Buckeye Conference title this season.

“It really gives us a chance to get it right and grow up with that,” Derek Vorst said. “Confidence is always important, and that gives us confidence and a little bit of momentum going into those games.”

Vorst, who competed for the Ohio Buckets in AAU basketball, averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a junior at Rossford.

He was named first team All-NBC, first team All-District 7 and first team All-Northwest Ohio, and he had been on the radar of Indian State coach Josh Schertz for some time. Schertz says Vorst is a “great teammate and student.”

“Derek is a big that brings a rare combination of physicality and skill to the center position. He has the size and strength to play inside on both ends of the floor but has the shooting, passing, and ball handling skills of a guard,” Schertz said.

“He, like (fellow Indiana State signee and 6-6 guard) Eli (Shetlar), plays for his father and his savvy and intelligence with the ball will allow us to run offense through him as a point center.”