For the second time in the last 10 years, the Cheswick Christian Academy boys basketball team is playing for a third straight championship in the Southwestern Christian Athletic Conference.
The last time the Chargers reached the SWCAC final three years in a row was in 2015-17 and the team came away with the title in 2015.
This year’s iteration of the team is looking to go back-to-back as SWCAC champion, having beaten Pittsburgh Christian Academy in last year’s contest.
“It takes a lot to get there three years in a row, but it’s also a big accomplishment,” junior guard Brady Rochkind said. “Not a lot of people even make it to begin with. It takes a lot of determination and grit, trusting in yourself and your teammates throughout the whole season to get there.”
For Rochkind and his fellow juniors, it will be three championship games in three years.
“It’s also three in four years for our seniors as well,” coach Todd Rosio said. “I’m super excited for them and the chance they get to experience it again.”
The Chargers (19-6, 10-0) who went undefeated and claimed a third straight Greater Pittsburgh Division title, will face Pittsburgh Christian (8-2) once again in the SWCAC championship game. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Beaver County Christian School.
Both teams played each other down the stretch of the regular season, with Cheswick dealing Pittsburgh Christian its only two conference losses of the year. The Chargers won 63-52 on Jan. 18 and 58-27 on Jan. 28.
“Because we play each other so often, both teams know what to expect from each other,” Coach Rosio said. “There won’t be too many surprises. The best we’re hoping to do is to limit their strengths and be the best version of ourselves.”
Pittsburgh Christian defeated Grove City Christian, 59-38, in the quarterfinals and bested Portersville Christian, 65-53, in the semifinals.
The Chargers rolled past East Liverpool Christian Academy, 81-40, in the quarterfinals and topped Cornerstone Prep, 54-38, in the semifinals.
“We came out blazing in the quarterfinals,” Coach Rosio said. “We led 16-0 to start the game and finished the first quarter with 31 points. We finally had everyone back from injuries we sustained throughout the year, and we’re really clicking.
“Cornerstone gave us more of a battle. We established an 8- or 9-point lead early and they came close to tying us, but we never lost the lead. We were up by 10 in the third, and Brady just took over, didn’t matter who was guarding him. He increased our lead to 16 and we coasted from there.”
Rochkind and fellow junior guard Joseph Rosio have powered the Chargers all season. Rochkind is averaging 21.6 points a game while Rosio, who is Todd Rosio’s son, has averaged 20.6.
“They were pretty steady all year,” Coach Rosio said. “They kept flip-flopping each other as to who outscored the other on a given night.”
“It’s been a friendly competition all year,” Joseph Rosio added. “If he scored 26 and I scored 27, I would be talking a little bit about it. But then the next game, he’d score 27 and I’ll have maybe 17 and it’s his turn to talk. It’s all in good fun.”
Both players eclipsed 1,000 points in their careers during the season, Rosio in a senior night win Feb. 1 and Rochkind accomplished the milestone in the quarterfinals.
Starting senior forwards Keith Booth and Josh Phillips were part of a supporting cast that contributed another 25 points a game on top of the 40-point output from Rosio and Rochkind each night.
Booth flirted with a double-double all season, averaging eight points and eight rebounds a game. Phillips was the Chargers’ stellar defender, guarding the opponent’s best player night in and night out. Cheswick Christian, however, has been without Phillips since Jan. 23rd after he broke a bone in his hand.
“Keith gave us a steady big guy performance this year,” Coach Rosio said. “He has good skills, can handle the ball, shoot and pass very well for a big guy. We’ve missed Josh and losing him slowed us a little defensively.”
Junior guard Hayden Kamer also has been in the starting lineup, and Coach Rosio referred to him as the team’s glue guy and someone who does all the dirty work.
“If there’s a jump ball to be won, a save to be made or a charge to take, Hayden will do that for us,” Coach Rosio said. “He’s also done a very good job defensively as well.”
Entering the championship game, the Chargers have a distinct advantage in experience. Joseph Rosio and Rochkind have played the most minutes in the last few championship games and although their fellow starters were reserves last year, they still saw some playing time.
“We’ve been here before,” Rochkind said. “We went out there all year and played hard, played our game and trusted in ourselves and each other. We’re ready to go back-to-back.”
Pittsburgh Christian brings back one player from last year’s roster who played key minutes in the championship game.
“Their starting five cleared out and they have one guy back, who is their leading player and has done a great job this season,” Coach Rosio said. “I would say that having two players with experience in last year’s game is an advantage, but sports is funny.”
Experience isn’t always everything and the Chargers know that in order to win they have to keep it simple.
“All year I’ve broken our pregame huddle with four words; play hard, have fun,” Coach Rosio said. “That’s going to be the message Saturday. It’s just a game, and at the end of the day I want these guys to enjoy the experience of having played in a game like this.”
Joseph Rosio added: “We’re very prepared for this game. We’re treating it as a regular season game and sticking to what we’re good at, which is rebounding, playing good defense and moving the ball. Pittsburgh Christian is going to put up a fight, so let’s see how it plays out and let the best team win.”