ROCKFORD -- Justin Anyijong, East Grand Rapids' slim 6-foot-9 center, slammed his way into the 1,000-point career club Tuesday. " It is nice, great, but getting the team win, that was more important," said Anyijong, following East's 66-65 victory against host Rockford. Ah. Yes. Exactly.

That is the attitude any team needs. That is just what the Pioneers need as the season winds down and they enter the postseason. A year ago, they peaked at the right time, and advanced to the Class B state championship. No one is writing them in yet for this season, but if they keep this up, maybe use a pencil? After two tough one-point losses to two of the area's top teams -- Cedar Springs (51-50 in overtime on Jan. 26) and Jenison (50-49 on Feb. 6) -- East, 15-2 overall and ranked fifth in Class B, is playing well again.

It proved it Tuesday, edging Class A's 10th-ranked Rockford (13-3). " They are good, they are one of the best teams around," Rockford coach Steve Majerle said. "When they play hard, they are very, very good. If they play like this, I don't know if anyone could stop them," Still, the Rams had a shot. Trailing by as much as 45-34 late in the third quarter, they rallied to within 64-63 with six seconds left after a basket by Bryan Pasciak, and Rockford called its final timeout.

The Rams fouled Kelvin Grady, East's point guard, immediately, and he made both free throws, giving the Pioneers a 66-63 lead. Rockford took it downcourt, and senior Mark Ginzinger got the ball and scored on a layup as time ran out. The rally fell one-point short. " We told the kids to defend the 3, and he drove around us and scored," East coach Ed Crisman said. "We won. All I know is, it has been a struggle for us, and now we actually won a close one. It was a nice win against a good team."

A trio of four-year starters -- all of whom have scored more than 1,000 points in their careers -- leads the Pioneers. Anyijong, headed to Toledo, joined the club Tuesday after scoring 20 points. He now has 1,009 career points. Already signed to play basketball with Michigan, Kelvin Grady totaled 15 points, three assists and two steals. He scored his 1,000th-career point during last year's tournament run. His cousin, DeMarcus Grady (12 points, seven rebounds), joined the club earlier this season.

A fourth starter, Mitch Kimball, played a big role Tuesday, too. He scored four 3-pointers in the third quarter to help East gain a 45-37 lead entering the fourth quarter. He wound up with 12 points. " It was nice that our team had confidence in me to shoot," Kimball said. "They told me at halftime to shoot the shots I do in practice. It was a little bit of fun." So, who do you guard if four are shooting so well? " It was a bit of pick your poison," Majerle said. "They got off to such a great start, and we cannot play from behind against a team like that. They are just so quick." Pasciak led Rockford with 20 points and three assists, while Mitch Briggs added 19 points and seven rebounds.