Rockford withstands East Kentwood's late rally
By Steve Vedder / The Grand Rapids Press

KENTWOOD -- A year ago, it probably would have ended badly for Rockford's basketball team. But instead of losing close games as they did a year ago, the Rams began turning that trend around in Friday's 43-39 win over East Kentwood. Rockford never trailed after snapping a 9-9 tie in the last minute of the first quarter, and held what seemed a safe 41-34 lead with 17 seconds left. But after that margin was shaved to 41-39 with 6.8 seconds left, it took two free throws from the Rams' Mitchell Briggs to finally close out East Kentwood with 4.6 seconds to go.

" We did what we had to do," Rockford coach Steve Majerle said. "We still find ways to give away games, but we would have lost that game last year. The difference is eight seniors who went through it last year." The win improves Rockford to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the O-K Red. East Kentwood falls to 1-2 and 0-2. Down by seven points with 17 seconds left, the Falcons' Jamell Hatchet scored with 10.3 seconds to go. After a Rockford turnover on the inbound pass, Hatchet was fouled taking a 3-pointer and made all three shots to make it 41-39 with 6.8 seconds left. But Briggs, a junior forward who finished with 20 points, sealed the win with the free throws.

The Falcons struggled offensively, hitting just 12-of-35 field goals and only 13-of-21 free throws. Hatchet led East Kentwood with 15 points, with seven in the last 1:30. " As young and new as we are, it's going to take time to know each other," East Kentwood coach Jeff Anama said. "Rockford weathered the storm (but) there was almost a pretty neat ending for us.

" I think we were so focused on getting Jamell the ball, we missed some other opportunities. Rockford really loaded up on Jamell."
That was the game plan, said Majerle, who had his team play more zone defense than he can ever remember using. " I don't like coaching that way, but my mom didn't raise a stupid kid," he said. "(The zone) was more important than ego and playing a certain way. We made some mistakes, but we did enough to get some breathing room at the end."