Downing gives Holland upper hand
By Rich Mcgowan / The Grand Rapids Press

HOLLAND -- The Holland Dutch needed a 10-point fourth quarter effort from Kyle Downing to pull off a 49-46 come-from-behind victory over O-K Red Conference rival Rockford. After the Rams scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to increase its lead to seven points, Downing scored the next eight points to pull Holland ahead for the first time since the early stages of the first quarter.

" Kyle did a lot of good things tonight. It was good to see him step up," Holland coach Steve Windemuller said. "He didn't play last year, and for him to come out here in crunch time in front of that crowd and all that noise, he did a nice job." After Downing's drive to the hoop put the Dutch ahead by a point, Holland's defense held on for the last 1:55.

" We didn't look real pretty and I don't think they'll be pleased with the way they played either," Windemuller said. "It wasn't a pretty game, but it was a game where we were able to hang around and hopefully get a run or two, and we had a couple things bounce our way." Rockford led for nearly the entire game and by as many as 10 in the third quarter. " I thought we dominated the game for the most part," Rockford coach Steve Majerle said. "But if you don't put them away, especially playing in their place, things like this will happen."

Downing finished the game with 16 points, 14 in the second half. Holland's other big man, Pete Zessin, finished with 14 points and five rebounds. " Pete's a warrior. He just battles and battles," Windemuller said. "He doesn't look like he can do a lot at times but he's deceiving. He's a competitor." Holland's Chris Beal pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. Majerle said the Dutch's ability to slow the pace of the game was the reason the Rams could never pull away.

" Holland does a very nice job of doing what they do," Majerle said. "They controlled the tempo and we had to play at their pace. We like to be up-tempo and they kept it slow. We had to slug it out." The Rams were led by Mitchell Briggs' 13 points. Nicholas Wendling also added 12 points. " This is sweet," Windemuller said.