Ottawa senior guard Hezekiah Joachim stayed focused facing six crucial free throws in the final minutes of a Pirates victory Tuesday against Sterling .

He converted six in a row to ice a 50-44 Pirates victory and keep the home team unbeaten through two games in the Dean Riley “Shootin’ the Rock” Tournament. Sterling dropped to 0-2 on the young season.

“I was saying, ‘Lord, give me strength,’ and I just kept on repeating it through the free throws,” Joachim said.

Ottawa coach Mark Cooper acknowledged the Pirates didn’t play their best basketball Tuesday at Kingman Gym. He was, however, pleased they still found a way to win.

“We talked about finding ways to get wins on nights when the ball doesn’t go in and maybe we don’t play our best,” said Cooper of a performance in which the Pirat

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