Giants step on Rams in West Michigan basketball clash
www.westmiallstar.com / By D.Fooy, on December 30th, 2009

The crowd
In between the 3rd and 4th quarters of Tuesday’s game between Rockford and Kalamazoo Central, it was estimated that the attendance was somewhere in the 2,700 range. A glance into the stands revealed that several coaches and players from teams all over West Michigan were taking in the game. Drew Neitzel, 2004 Mr. Basketball, was attending the game as well as coaches from a number of colleges including Western Michigan, Oakland, Grand Valley State, South Eastern University(Tampa, FL), and Glen Oaks CC.

The game
Q-1: Kalamazoo Central struck first, taking advantage of their advantage in height at the point guard slot — Rockford 6-foot sophomore Justin Klein vs Kalamazoo Central 6-foot-3 junior T.J. Buchanan. Early on, K Central orchestrated their offense to get Buchanan in a one-on-one situation against Klein in the post. K Central was able to get Buchanan there on 3 of the first 7 possessions, resulting in 6 points and 1 foul on Klein.

In response, Rockford’s Ryan Majerle knocked down his first shot attempt, a three-pointer, but subsequently missed his next three three-point attempts in the first. Both teams were able to get the shots that they wanted in the first quarter, it was just a matter of them going down. Rockford’s Robert Peirson was two-of-three from deep and finished the 1st with 8 points. K Central was provided a spark mid-way thru the first when 5-foot-9 speedy sophomore Eco Dunning was inserted into the lineup. Dunning converted on two fast break lay-ups as K Central was ahead 19-17 after the first.

Q-2: The pace picked up for both teams during the second quarter. Rockford’s Matt Karamol had his way around the basket, going 5-for-5 in the period with three offensive rebounds. Peirson added four points and four assists for the Rams in the second quarter.

But not to be outdone, K Central’s Devin Oliver took over the second for the Maroon Giants. After going 1-5 in the first, along with 5 turnovers, Oliver scored nine points on 4-4 shooting in the second. He was all over the court, collecting five rebounds and three steals — two of which lead to uncontested breakaway dunks. And senior Angelo Griffis was 3-4 from deep, scoring 11-points during the a quarter in which K Central out-scored Rockford 26-21, to lead 45-38 at the half.

Q-3: The third quarter began where the second left off, both teams executing their offenses like well-oiled machines. Majerle had eight points for the Rams in the third, and Matt Karamol had seven of his own. For K Central, Oliver looked very comfortable setting up teammates TJ Buchanan and Dyland Hughes for easy baskets.

Q-4: To start the final period, Rockford again looked to Majerle, who didn’t let them down. Majerle hit an early three and then a quick inside basket on a nifty drive. A 7-0 run midway through the quarter helped Rockford close to within one point, 64-63. But Hughes answered for K Central by knocking down a three from the top of the key, starting a 9-0 Giant run in a span of just 55-seconds. Suddenly down double digits, Rockford couldn’t trim the lead to any less than four the rest of the way.

Majerle’s 12-fourth quarter points weren’t enough, as K Central’s Hughes dropped 14-points in the final stanza to lead the Maroon Giants to a 85-72 victory. Rockford falls to 3-2 on the season and Kalamazoo Central goes to 4-1.

Analysis and scoring
The game was probably won on the boards. As K Central assistant coach Harold Swift explained, “we knew that they were bigger than us and that Majerle wasnt a one man band. We worked on boxing out-everyone crashing to limit the 2nd chances. That number five (Karamol) was tough, wasn’t he?” When told that KC out rebounded Rockford by a 46-30 count, coach Swift just smiled and nodded his head.

Rockford’s Majerle finished with 24-points, Karamol had 21-points and 10-rebounds, Peirson had 12-points (all in first half) and 6-assists. Klein, although battling foul trouble and relentless K Central ball pressure, had 8 assists to only 3 turnovers. Others in the scoring column: Jacob Greene, 5; Ryan Darby, 4; Brent Henry, 2.

Kalamazoo Central was lead by Oliver’s 22-points, 12-rebounds and 4-steals. Hughes scored 21-points (14 in the 4th) and grabbed 7-rebounds. Buchanan had 16-points and 10-rebounds, Griffis scored 11, Tyler Bell had 6, Dunning had 5 and Daerquavon McCants-Wilson had 4.

Interesting tidbit
K Central was playing without highly regarded 6′7″ Jr. Darius Norman. Norman was held out for precautionary measures due to complications from Sports-Induced Athsma.