Rockford hangs in, but loses again to Kalamazoo Central
Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press
LANSING -- It was a better effort this time, but the result was the same.
The Rockford boys basketball team saw its season end with a 63-57 loss to Kalamazoo Central in Class A quarterfinal action at Lansing Eastern on Tuesday.
It was a far cry from the 77-52 loss the Rams suffered on their home court when the teams played Jan. 31.
"We made some shots tonight," Rockford coach Steve Majerle said. "Last time when we missed shots, it went back the other way fast, but tonight we made shots."
The Rams (22-3) made shots and rebounded, especially in the first half, and they took a 27-22 lead into halftime.
Rockford hit four 3-pointers, two by senior guard Brogan Bibler, and out-rebounded Kalamazoo Central 21-12 in the first 16 minutes of play.
"We went after them in the first half," Majerle said. "It also helped that we got (Kalamazoo Central center Doug) Anderson in foul trouble, but the big thing is that we attacked in the first half."
Kalamazoo Central, however, went on the attack after halftime and seized control of the game.
The Maroon Giants (24-1) scored the first 10 points of the second half, capped by an impressive dunk by junior forward Devin Oliver.
After a basket by Rockford senior guard Gabe VanderJagt, Anderson got involved with two rim-rocking slam dunks that sent the Kalamazoo Central fans into a frenzy.
The Maroon Giants turned a five-point deficit into a 44-36 lead after three quarters.
"We had to keep going after them, but we got passive," Majerle said. "And you can't turn the ball over against them. They are awfully quick and strong, and they get a lot of teams in trouble with that."
Kalamazoo Central coach Michael Thomas said the Maroon Giants were not worried at halftime, even though they trailed for one of the few times all season.
"I came into (the locker room at halftime) smiling," Thomas said. "I told them not to panic, we had been down before. In the second half we played harder. We got after them."
The Rams did not go down without a fight.
Rockford hit four more 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and kept the game within striking distance, but just ran out of time.
"I'm proud of these kids, we took their best shot," Majerle said. "These guys had a great season, they played with a lot of heart this year."
VanderJagt and Oliver each led their teams by scoring 23 points.
