Rams 44, Zeeland 48

Chix avenge earlier loss
By Cris Greer / The Grand Rapids Press

ZEELAND -- The Chix fought off some tight defense, several 3-pointers and a slow start Tuesday to edge Rockford in Zeeland.

The Rams (7-6 overall) hit six 3-pointers, but the Chix ended up revenging an earlier loss and even hit some threes of their own (five).

" We have a goal on our team that we want to beat everybody who beat us earlier in the year," said Zeeland coach Mickey Cochran, whose Chix improved to 9-5 with the 48-44 win. "We started out the year 1-4 and took some lumps

"We've steadily climbed and feel it's time for paybacks."

The Rams grabbed an early 6-0 lead on 3-pointers from Kyle Mahoney and Zach VanSetters, but the Chix knotted it at eight on a 3-pointer by Steve Reidsma to end the first quarter.

" We started out a little bit slow," said Cochran, in his 16th year. "Once we got people adjusted and got the ball moving a little bit, we were able to get some decent looks." The second quarter was tied at 14, 16, 18 and finally ended at 21 all at the half after Rockford's Nick Wendling and Zeeland's Josh Lamer traded threes in the final minute. The Rams took charge with a 33-25 lead in the third quarter and it felt like they would build on that, but Zeeland began closing the gap.

" We were eight points down, and it started to look a little bit like 'oh my goodness, how are we ever going to come back?' " Cochran said. "They're such a good defensive team, and they really worked our big man pretty well. I'm just glad our guys fought back from that deficit and maintained."

The Chix tied the game at 37 on a buzzer-beater by Chris Nelis. Reidsma put Zeeland ahead for good at 41-39 with four and a half minutes left in the game. The Chix played some tough defense and sank some clutch free throws down the stretch. Ben Werley went 4-for-4 from the line in the last two minutes to help seal the win.
" We talk long and hard about how free throws win championships," Cochran said. "Our guys work on their free throws constantly."

The Chix have won eight of their last nine games. " We're not a great team, but we're improving every time out," Cochran said. "One thing you know when our guys get on the floor, they're hungry and they'll work hard every night." Reidsma and Matt Kingshott led Zeeland with 10 points apiece, followed by Nelis with seven. "It feels great to beat Rockford, because we lost to them by three last time, and that was a pretty big heartbreaker," Reidsma said. "Beating them on our home court was pretty amazing."

Mark Russell led Rockford in scoring with 12 points, including two 3-pointers.

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