Box Score ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 15 Parkland men's basketball team won its ninth straight game to open the season, as the Cobras defeated St. Louis Community College, 67-56, on Sunday afternoon as part of the St. Louis Shootout. Sophomore point guard Yaakema Rose Jr. scored a season-high 25 points to lead the Cobras offense while also forcing five steals and grabbing three rebounds on defense.
 
One of 12 unbeaten teams left in NJCAA Division II, the Cobras' nine straight wins mark the longest season-opening streak under head coach Anthony Figueroa. Overall, the nine-game winning streak is the most by the Cobras since winning 22 straight during the 2016-17 season.
 
Resetting his season-high point total by four points, Rose Jr. scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half, including a key three-pointer and five free throws in the final three minutes that helped Parkland fend off a pair of St. Louis rallies. Joining Rose Jr. in double figures was Ty'Ohn Trimble with 12 points – including 5-6 from the free-throw line – and Joey Saracco with 11 points and seven rebounds in his first start of the season.
 
Falling behind early against St. Louis, the host Archers scored the first five points of the game and extended the lead out to 17-9 through the opening eight minutes.
 
However, the remaining 12 minutes of the half proved to belong to the Cobras as a tip-dunk from Saracco sparked a 15-0 Parkland run. From down 17-9 to up 24-17, the Cobras used the run to take a seven-point, 28-21 lead into locker room at halftime. Rose Jr. led the first half scoring with nine points, while Saracco added in six points and three rebounds.
 
Out of the break, Parkland extended its lead out to double digits in the early goings of the second half. Leading by as much as 13 (44-31), the Cobras advantage stayed in single digits for much of the second half. Drawing closer as the game entered its final three minutes, the Cobras twice fought off a 5-0 run by St. Louis that cut the lead down to four.
 
Following the first 5-0 surge by the Archers, the Cobras leaned on its elite free-throw shooting – currently ranked 14^th in the NJCAA – to stunt the comeback with Rose Jr. making all three attempts following a foul on a three-point attempt and then Jordan Coleman converting two more on the next Cobras possession.
 
The second, and final, charge by the Archers came off a made three and a steal turned into a layup to cut the lead to 57-53. However, Rose Jr. again responded to lead the Cobras out of danger with a three-pointer and then two more free throws off an Archer turnover.
 
With the lead back out to nine, Parkland's defense locked down to hold off another comeback as the Cobras pushed the lead back to double digits, finishing with an 11-point victory.
 
Up next, the Cobras will try to extend its winning streak to 10 games on Saturday, December 8, when they host Richard J. Daley College at 4 p.m. central time.