Rockford shooters sizzle in win over West Ottawa
By Jane Bos / The Grand Rapids Press

ROCKFORD -- Pssst. If you are going to play Rockford this season, don't spot the Rams any points, don't give them a lead late in the game. Oh, and don't, by any means, think that by staying right on their hip or putting a hand in their face will keep the ball from going in the hoop. Certainly, Rockford will not -- or at least should not, statistically speaking -- shoot as well as it did during its 69-57 victory against visiting West Ottawa on Tuesday. But the Rams might. Rockford, 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the O-K Red, connected on 49 percent of its field goals (24-of-49) and 87 percent of their free throws (13-of-15), including making 6-of-9 baskets and 9-of-10 free throws during a critical fourth-quarter effort.

Tough to win against that. " We can shoot that well. Whether we will shoot that well every game, I don't think we will, but we are capable of this," said Rockford coach Steve Majerle. "The strength of this team ... we have five guys on the team who can shoot."

Balanced scoring. And shoot they did. Junior guard Bryan Pasciak led the way with 20 points. Derek Brower totaled 11 points, Mitch Briggs scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter, and Nick Wendling added eight.
While the Rams were shooting well, so was West Ottawa (2-1, 0-1). Rockford needed every basket to hold off the Panthers, who trailed 47-45 entering the fourth quarter.

Then, during the next 44 seconds, Ryan Sheafor sank a 3-pointer and Pasciak made a shot. Suddenly, the Rams led 52-45. " Our defense did not play like we are capable of playing, but credit Rockford, they just knocked down shots," said West Ottawa coach Doug Ammeraal. "Rockford played an excellent game, and we played 90 percent of our best. We've got to have 100 percent against a team like Rockford. The other 10 percent came in the fourth quarter, when it came down the stretch, we needed to execute and we didn't."

In the final eight minutes, the Panthers made 4 of 14 field goals. And even though they had six offensive rebounds, were able to convert on just one. They also made 4 of 8 free-throw attempts. Tim Zeerip scored 17 points to pace the Panthers, while Preston Burrell and Nick Watts added 10 points each. " It was really nice to be in the zone," Pasciak said. "We came out with confidence, and we were hitting. West Ottawa is a very good team, I am glad to win this one." The game had the makings of a wild shoot out. After the first quarter, which included eight lead changes, the Rams led 23-18.

West Ottawa regained the lead 31-28 with 1:17 left in the first half. But Sheafor, a middle linebacker, er, guard, grabbed two steals late, contributing to three-consecutive Panther turnovers. Rockford led 34-31 at halftime. " Defensively, we started to dictate the tempo after the first quarter," Majerle said. "We played 10 guys, and I think we wore them down at the end. I was very pleased with the way we ended the game. With the way we shoot and handle the ball, we should be able to milk away a win if we have a lead."