Rockford's Ryan Majerle warms up in second half to lead Rams past
East Grand Rapids
Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press, December 11, 2010 12:19 a.m.
ROCKFORD -- Ryan Majerle came out with a cold shooting
hand.
But like most pure shooters, the Rockford senior forward kept firing,
which was good for the Rockford boys basketball team.
Majerle scored a game-high 24 points, including all 13 of his team’s
points in the third quarter, to lead Rockford to a 60-52 win against
East Grand Rapids on Friday night. It was the season opener for both
teams.
“It was just one of those nights where the shots weren’t
falling early,” said Majerle, who plans to play at the University
of Toledo next year. “I wasn’t hitting from the outside,
so I went down low to the post game and that got me going.”
Majerle’s strong inside game was most evident in the third
quarter. He took charge and helped extend Rockford’s nine-point
lead at the half to 43-33 heading into the final quarter when he
scored all of his team’s points in the quarter.
Ryan’s father Steve Majerle, who coaches the Rams, was glad
his son found his inside shooting hand.
“He caught fire and that was good,” Steve Majerle said. “I
don’t think we played particularly well. We played hard, but
it was the first game and we just didn’t look comfortable.
But losing nine seniors may have something to do with that.”
That, and a quick East Grand Rapids team.
The Pioneers outrebounded Rockford 38-25 and forced the Rams into
13 turnovers. The Pioneers’ poor first-half shooting allowed
Rockford to take the lead at the break. EGR was forced to play catch-up
the entire second half.
“The biggest difference is we got down by nine at the half,” East
Grand Rapids coach Jared Redell said. “We counted up the missed
shots in the lane in the first half and it was 13, and 13 shots is
a lot to miss in the paint. ... (The Rams) are hard to come from
behind (and beat), because they have good ball handlers and shooters.”
The Pioneers didn’t go down easy. They cut Rockford’s
leads to five points twice in the fourth quarter.
But the Rams made 8-of-10 free throws in the final three minutes
to earn the win.
“I’m proud that my kids never put their heads down and
fought,” Redell said.
Deon Jobe led East Grand Rapids with 18 points. Austin Howell added
15.
Connor McCane had 10 points for Rockford.
We are happy for the win but not for our showing,” Ryan Majerle
said. “We just didn’t click like I think we can."
