Vemuri Scores 36 as Stanton Dominates River City Science Academy On Senior Night
FABRIZIO GOWDY | JAN. 20, 2021 | SPORTS
Senior guard Ro Vemuri had another big night as the Stanton College Preparatory School varsity boys basketball team trounced the River City Science Academy Rockets 73-34 on Senior Night Wednesday.
Stanton head coach Rob Burnett honored eight Blue Devil seniors pre-game, five of whom started.
“I’m very happy for the seniors. We have a large senior class this year, and a lot of first-year seniors,” said Coach Burnett. “They’ve worked really hard this year and it’s been an up and down year, but to get the opportunity to have some fun is great.”
The Blue Devils fell behind early as they failed to hit a single field goal in the first 4:27. However, Stanton's senior forwards played well; Captain Thomas McLaughlin blocked three first quarter shots, and fellow captain Tyler Pottenburgh and Rohith Kilambi's presence in the paint helped draw six River City fouls and put Stanton in the bonus early. After trailing by as much as six, Stanton rode a 13-2 run to a five-point lead going into the second quarter.
The Rocket offense, which had some success from beyond the arc in the first, sputtered out in the second. River City mustered just a single field goal in a six-minute span. On the other end of the floor, senior guard Ro Vemuri hit two threes and scored 15 points. Stanton, which entered averaging 37.5 points per game, scored 37 in the first half alone and led by 17 going into the third.
“When he gets hot he can really shoot the ball,” said Coach Burnett of Vemuri. “He’s maybe the best mind as a basketball player I’ve ever coached.”
Stanton's Rohith Kilambi scored eight unanswered points in the paint to open the second half, spurning a 13-2 run. The game, which was already quickly slipping away from River City, was blown wide open.
It was at this point that Ro Vemuri, who put up 40 points last Tuesday at Middleburg High School, came alive. Vemuri hit five threes and recorded a four-point play to end the quarter. Led by Vemuri's 16 points, Stanton scored 34 points and built its lead to 37.
“It felt surreal,” said Vemuri. “To score 36 right after dropping 40 is pretty cool, and we got the [win] this time.”
The monstrous Stanton lead triggered the running clock rule before the end of third. Stanton and River City combined for just six points in the fourth as the Blue Devils closed out their 39-point victory.
Stanton (3-10) will travel to Creekside High School Thursday to take on the Knights. Still in search of their first win of the season, River City (0-6) moves on to play at Fernandina Beach High School Jan. 25.