Rockford clinches O-K Red title share
Cris Greer | The Grand Rapids Press
JENISON -- The Rockford boys basketball team survived a large comeback
from Jenison to clinch at least a share of the O-K Red Conference
with two games remaining.
Muskegon trails Rockford by two games.
Ahead by as many as 23 points, the Rams held off Jenison 63-50 on
Friday at the Wildcats' gym.
Behind the shooting of Ryan Majerle, who scored 14 points in the
first half, Rockford (16-2, 12-0) sprinted to a 20-8 lead to end
the first quarter. The Rams led 37-18 at halftime.
"He's playing well, but the great thing is the balance," Rockford
coach Steve Majerle said of is son. "I'm very pleased how well
we're sharing the ball, making good decisions and just playing lights-out
defense. We shot well.
"Earlier in the year, it was all Gabe (VanderJagt). The main
thing is we're sharing the ball and playing the way the guy who invented
basketball wanted it to be played."
At halftime, Jenison coach Brett Dyke told the Wildcats they could "pack
it in" or put up a fight.
"I'm very proud that we didn't fold it up," Dyke said. "We
just kept coming back and back."
Jenison outscored Rockford 25-14 in the third quarter to cut the
deficit to 51-43 to start the final quarter.
Wildcats junior Jordan Bigler scored on a jumper to cut Rockford's
lead to six points, 51-45, to begin the fourth quarter.
After a Jenison timeout, the Rams' Brogan Bibler stole the ball
and the momentum.
"That's Brogan Bibler for you," Majerle said. "He
made those three plays when it got down to six. Bibler made a steal,
two free throws and a bucket.
"He's not our leading scorer, but he's one of our best athletes
and probably has the biggest heart out there."
The Rams outscored Jenison 12-7 in the fourth quarter to complete
the victory.
"I guess we ran out of gas," Dyke said. "That turnover
hurt and I think we turned it over the next two times also. We just
didn't handle the pressure.
"We needed to make key possessions there and we didn't. Give
credit to Rockford. When it was crunch time, they answered the call."
VanderJagt led Rockford with 22 points. Majerle added 18 and Bibler
had 14.
Kyle Hoek led Jenison with 15 points. Tony Nelson had 11, and Kyle
Krogh scored 10.
