Taking Care of Business
Jane Bos / Grand Rapids Press

Point to Rockford's dismal shooting Friday night. Point to the fact that Rams leading scorer, all-state senior guard Michael Redell, sat injured on the bench. Point all you want. But here's the main point: Jenison wanted it more.

The Wildcats outhustled and outplayed two-time defending O-K Red Conference champ Rockford, posting an astonishing 53-35 upset of the visiting Rams. With one game left in the newly formed O-K Red Metro race, Jenison (7-4, 12-6) is one game behind Rockford (8-3, 11-7). The Rams, who clinched a share of the crown Wednesday night when East Kentwood upset Forest Hills Northern, need a win against visiting Hudsonville Tuesday to win it outright.

" You just never know what's going to happen," said Jenison coach Brett Dyke. "We went out and took care of our business. Now we have to win at Forest Hills Central, and we need Hudsonville to help us out."

Point taken.

" I would think just playing on a Friday night would give us all the motivation we needed," said Rockford coach Steve Majerle. "I don't think we need more motivation on a Friday night, playing in this kind of an atmosphere with this kind of excitement, with the conference title on the line. I am disappointed in our effort. We got outfought."

Majerle refused to use the excuse of playing without Redell, who averages 20 points and 5.5 assists per game. After all, except for the first three minutes of Tuesday's 61-57 win over East Kentwood, he didn't play, either. Redell, who suffered a rare capsulitis injury to his upper ankle, is still questionable for next Tuesday.

Friday night, the Rams had plenty of questions on offense. They made a desolate 3 for 25 field goals (12 percent) in the first half to fall behind 28-13. Jenison, meanwhile, made 10 of 22 attempts (45 percent). No Rockford player reached double figures as the Rams improved their shooting in the second half, making 8 of 22 shots (36 percent) from the floor.

Jenison was led by Pete Trammell, bound for Grand Valley State, with game-high totals of 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. A three-year starter, this marked the first time in his career he won against Rockford. Freshman Tyler Tanis added 10 points, including five points in a critical stretch at the end of the first quarter, for the winners.

With Jenison leading 12-7, Tanis sank a 3-point shot, then grabbed the inbound pass and was fouled while shooting. He made both free throws, putting the Wildcats on top 17-7. Defensively, Jenison limited Rockford to just three 3-pointers on 14 attempts. Entering the game, the Rams made an average of almost eight 3-point shots per game on about 20 attempts.

" We knew they had some shooters who like to shoot the 3s, and with Redell not playing, that had to find his 20 points elsewhere," Dyke said. "I thought we did a good job of finding their other 3-point shooters." The first time Jenison played Rockford on Jan. 23, the Rams made nine 3-pointers in a 51-47 victory.

" We didn't shoot well, yeah, and if you shoot like that, you're probably not going to win anyway," Majerle said. "But we got outfought, they beat us to loose balls, and that is disappointing. We did not play like the Rockford Rams we've seen the last five years. " I do not expect to see this kind of effort again on Tuesday. We are selfish. We do not want to share the title."

Good Point.