Rockford edges Jenison; GR Christian falls
By Jane Bos / The Grand Rapids Press
Grand Haven-- Matt VanPelt lived up
to his initials Monday night.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Rockford junior guard -- aka MVP
-- sank a 10-foot jumper, giving the Rams a 52-50 victory against
Jenison in a Class A regional semifinal at Grand Haven.
The win sends Rockford (14-9) into
Wednesday's 7 p.m. regional title tilt against Muskegon (22-2), a
72-64 winner against Grand Rapids Christian (21-3) in the nightcap.
The Big Reds, champions of the O-K Red Conference, defeated Rockford
twice during the regular season. Jenison (13-10), meanwhile, split
games with the Rams. And Rockford won the tiebreaker Wednesday.
"It was a big game, and it feels good to make that shot, but
it was not about me," VanPelt said. "This was a total team
effort."
With Jenison leading the entire game -- by as much as eight points
in the first and second quarters -- Rockford slowly crept back. The
Rams tied the score and took its first lead of the game, 32-31, with
2:26 left in the third quarter on a pair of free throws by senior
Mitchell Briggs.
Then Rockford got hot and led 47-41 with three minutes remaining.
The Wildcats battled back. Behind nine fourth-quarter points by
senior Wes Trammell, they knotted the score at 50-50 with 28 seconds
to go on a basket by Tony Nelson.
Rockford coach Steve Majerle called a timeout to set up a final
shot at victory with 17.6 seconds left. The Rams used it all before
VanPelt sank the game-winner at the buzzer.
"I don't usually call a timeout in those situations because
it's always a freak thing that happens, but I did this time," Majerle
said. "We had a play designed to get Gabe Vanderjagt the ball.
MVP got open, he took the shot. It was a big-time play."
Vanderjagt, a junior, led the Rams with 17 points. Brogan Bibler,
Briggs and Ryan Majerle, the coach's freshman son, added eight points
each. VanPelt scored seven.
Zach VanEngen scored 16 points and Trammell had 13 to pace Jenison.
Tony Nelson, a junior, totaled nine points and 11 rebounds.
"We did everything we could," Jenison coach Brett Dyke
said. "There was just that one stretch in the fourth quarter
where we did not do what we needed to, and then Rockford just got
the last shot."
