Win puts Rockford in three-way tie for Red lead
By Jane Bos / The Grand Rapids Press

ROCKFORD -- With time ticking off, Rockford's Mitchell Briggs watched East Kentwood fire a potential game-winning shot and muscled his way into position for the rebound.

The shot did miss. And Briggs did get the rebound.

The senior forward sank a pair of free throws, too, helping seal Rockford's 51-49 victory against visiting East Kentwood on Thursday and helping muscle the Rams into a better position in the O-K Red Conference.

Like, right at the top.

Rockford's win, coupled with Muskegon's 58-56 win against defending O-K Red champ Jenison on Thursday, knots those three teams -- along with Grand Haven and Hudsonville -- atop the Red with 2-1 marks. Kentwood (5-3 overall) is a step back at 1-2 in the conference.

"We knew we had to win this one at home if we wanted to win the championship," said Briggs, who totaled 19 points and five rebounds. "There are a lot of games left, but this is a pretty big win."

Certainly anything can happen in the O-K Red. It has so far.

The last time the Rams (4-3 overall) played a game, Dec. 22 at Muskegon, they lost by a whopping 63-33 margin to the host Big Reds. A week earlier, East Kentwood had edged the Big Reds in Muskegon 65-62.

"Our kids did a much better job of decision-making than in our last game, and I am must happier with their composure," said Rockford coach Steve Majerle. "Anybody can beat anybody in this league this year, and the winner could have three to four losses. You need to win the home games and steal a few on the road. We needed to win this one."

The Rams almost didn't. But they held off the Falcons long enough.

Trailing 43-42 early in the fourth quarter, Rockford took the lead for good after Briggs sank a basket with 5:31 remaining. The two teams traded turnovers and missed free throws, and Rockford still led 49-47.

Kentwood did have a final shot at victory, though, after Jesse Wright grabbed a big defensive rebound with 36 second left.

The Falcons took a pair of timeouts, setting up a 3-point shot with 11 seconds on the clock, but it fell short and into Briggs' arms. Briggs' free throws gave the Rams a 51-47 lead, and East Kentwood did narrow the score after sophomore AJ McEwen made a basket. But the Rams let the final seconds tick off to victory.

"We got a little tentative, and I don't know the answer why we stopped attacking late in the game," said Kentwood coach Jeff Anama. "I think Rockford is a tough place to play, every O-K Red game on the road is tough."

Matt VanPelt scored 13 points for Rockford, while McEwen and Wright scored 13 points each to lead the Falcons. McEwen also had four steals.

EAST KENTWOOD (1-2, 5-3)
A.J. McEwen 4 2-4 13, Jimmy Carroll 0 2-2 2, Christian Jessie 1 4-4 6, David McCloud 1 1-2 3, John Ford 4 0-0 11, Matt Gildersleeve 0 1-2 1, Jesse Wright 2 9-12 13. Totals 12 19-26 49.

ROCKFORD (2-1, 4-3)
Brogan Bibler 2 0-0 4, Ryan Majerle 1 0-0 3, Matt Karamol 1 2-2 4, Matt VanPelt 5 0-1 13, Gabe Vanderjagt 1 0-0 2, Sam Bogard 2 1-2 5, Mitch Briggs 6 4-4 19, Robert Pierson 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 8-11 51.

East Kentwood 15 10 15 9 -- 49

Rockford 15 14 13 9 -- 51

3-point goals--East Kentwood 2 (McEwen, Ford), Rockford 3 (Majerle, VanPelt, Briggs). Fouled out--none. Rebounds--East Kentwood 23 (Gildersleeve 6), Rockford 30 (Karamol 7). Assists--East Kentwood 3 (3 players with 1), Rockford 8 (Vanderjagt 3). Turnovers--East Kentwood 6, Rockford 13. Total fouls--East Kentwood 13, Rockford 16