Rossi, Leonard lift Bath
LCAA BOYS BASKETBALL
BY BOB BENZ THE LEADER

ERIC WENSEL/THE LEADER Bath Haverling's Sean Lake puts up a shot against Wayland-Cohocton during riday's, Dec. 21, LCAA boys basketball game.

BATH - Bath Haverling did not look anything like an 0-4 team Friday night, Dec. 21.

Although the Rams were still win less heading into their Livingston County game with Wayland- Cohocton, Bath played more like a team that hasn't lost yet this season.

Michael Rossi poured in a game-high 19 points and Chris Leonard added a 17- point effort to lead the Rams to a 66-35 victory over Wayland-Cohocton.

The Rams excelled in all phases, playing exceptional defense, while finding numerous open looks on offense, thanks to great ball movement and an effective transition game.

Perhaps one reason for Bath's slow start was the extended seasons for the school's football and soccer teams, which each played well into November.

"This is definitely the best game we've played this year," Bath head coach Randy Brzezinski said. "We've had a lot of guys who put a lot of time in some of their fall sports, so it's taken us a little while to get in a groove offensively with the basketball."

Bath held Wayland- Cohocton to single digits in each of the first three quarters and scored at least 13 points in every quarter.

ERIC WENSEL/THE LEADER Bath Haverling's Josh Butler sinks a second-half jumper at

With a three-point lead early in the second quarter, the Rams slowly began to pull away.

Leonard ignited a 9-0 run by taking a feed from Andre McCloud and knocking down his only 3-pointer from the right corner. Leonard - a 6-foot-2 junior - had a huge game, pulling down eight rebounds, while blocking four shots to go with his eight field goals and 17 points. McCloud dished out four assists and scored five points.

The Rams then finished the second quarter on a 10- 0 run to outscore the Eagles 22-8 in the second quarter.

Rossi accounted for two of his three 3-pointers and eight of his 19 points in the final three minutes of the first half to help the Rams open up a commanding 37-17 lead at halftime. Rossi knocked down 3s from both the left and right wing and converted an open layup off a steal to key the run. Rossi also pulled down five rebounds.

Bath shot 9-of-16 in the second quarter, while limiting the Eagles to just 1- of-10 from the floor in the eight minutes before halftime. In addition, Wayland-Cohocton committed 14 of its 22 turn overs in the first half.

"The biggest thing was the commitment they made to playing defense," Brzezinski said. "Our defense helped open up a lot of opportunities in transition."

The Rams put the game in cruise control in the second half and led by as many as 34 points in the second half.