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Burlington Central holds off Johnsburg

Burlington Central center Ryan Fitzgerald may have had the best explanation as to why the Rockets' 53-42 road win over Johnsburg was one of those odd, grind-it-out, gritty victories to stay undefeated in the Big Northern East.

"It's Tuesday night in Johnsburg," said a lighthearted Fitzgerald, who had a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. "It was a long bus ride. It was a cold day. We have finals (Wednesday). But it's really no excuse. We still got the win and we got to get back at it this weekend."

That the Rockets did, despite the frigid temps outside mixed with the physicality and 2-3 zone defense indoors, all of which may have translated to a 28.8 percent clip from the floor on 15 of 52 shooting, but Central made due on the glass and at the free throw line to improve to 12-2 overall and 5-0 in conference.

Central sank 22 of 30 from the stripe as Fitzgerald (8 for 10) drained 6 crucial ones for a 44-33 BC edge at the end of three quarters, this after the Skyhawks crept within 5 in the late stages of the quarter.

Fitzgerald also helped the Rockets secure a 45-26 edge in rebounds - including a 20-6 edge on the offensive side, as the smaller Skyhawks (8-8, 3-2) were contained inside.

"There were a lot of tough points earned tonight," Fitzgerald said. "We were already in the bonus at the end of the third quarter so we definitely worked off of that and made them pay at the free throw line. I think that really helped the momentum and slow down the game."

Which wasn't a surprise to Central coach Brett Porto, who expected it at the very least in Skyhawk Country.

"It was a very physical game but our kids like that and I thought we responded pretty well," Porto said. "Anytime you come up here it's a tough place to play. It's a long drive, tough environment and the kids play hard. We expect nothing less than a physical fight and we expected this."

So did Fitzgerald, who took many blows, including a shot in the head late in the third. And with the rest of the Rockets ice cold, BC needed a spark off the bench and reserve forward Joey Ratzek stepped in. Ratzek finished with 10 points and 2 rebounds, including 4 points during a stretch in the second quarter where BC surged for a 15-2 run, dominating the paint in 4:45 span that gave it a 30-17 lead with 1:28 left.

"You have to be patient and when they give you the look you have to take advantage of it," Ratzek said. "And our team is really good at recognizing when they gave us an open look and I was getting lucky being in the right spot.

The Rockets also benefited from Zach Schutta's 6 point, 7 rebound night while Ta Vontae Harris added 8 points. BC finished with 24 points in the paint and made just 3 baskets beyond 15 feet.

But the Rockets weren't the only ones with the iron unkind, as a 32 percent clip limited Johnsburg's attempt to knock of the top team in the division. Leading scorer Tanner Kreassig notched 13 points while Nick Whiting added 12 as his drive with 5:30 remaining in the third had Johnsburg within 5.

But the Skyhawks wouldn't get closer as nothing would fall, either in the cup on 16 for 50 shooting or in their hands for a key rebound.

"We didn't shoot well and it was rebounding," Skyhawks coach Mike Toussaint said. "(Fitzgerald) killed us. Putbacks ... he beat us up inside and the free throws. That's one of our goals to get to the free throw line and we didn't."

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