Rockford Rams 48, Muskegon Big Reds 46

Rockford Buzzer Beater stuns Muskegon
by Joshua Erdman | WestMIAllStar

Two of the OK Red’s premier basketball teams took the court Friday night when the Muskegon Big Reds hosted the Rockford Rams. Muskegon entered Friday nights game at 6-4 and looking for it’s first stand out win in league play. Rockford wasn’t planning on it letting it be against them. WMA’s #5 ranked Rams entered with a record of 6-2 and 4-0 in conference play with big wins over Hudsonville and Grand Haven already this season. Muskegon came in leading the OK Red in scoring this season averaging 59 points per game and Rockford’s defense was ready to step up to the challenge especially during crunch time in the fourth quarter where they held the Big Reds to four points and Rockford’s Chad Carlson hit a game winning three at the buzzer to give the Rams a 48-46 victory.

Muskegon opened up strong pushing the lead to 8-3 off a couple strong drives and makes by Travell Oakes scoring 4 points early for the Big Reds. The Rams answered back ending the half on a 8-0 run with Carlson hitting two three’s late in the quarter giving Rockford the 11-8 lead. Both teams began to pick it up offensively in the second with neither team able to pull away from the other. The game went into the half all square at 24. Muskegon would once again open up hot coming out of the locker room going on a 10-2 run to begin the second half giving the Big Reds a 34-26 lead midway through the 3rd which would be the Big Reds best quarter as they tallied 18 points and led 42-35 going into the fourth. Rockford would again answer back recapturing the lead with 4:15 left at 45-44. Muskegon’s Juwan Loudermill who led all scorers with 18 points came up with a quick steal followed by a easy lay in to give the Big Reds their final lead at 46-45 with 3:32 left on the clock. For the next 3:31 no points would be scored as Muskegon held on to the ball for long possessions to protect their lead and Rockford missed on a couple opportunities. Rockford would be forced to follow Muskegon’s Jhamonte Melton sending him to the line for a one-and-one. Melton would miss his free throw but Oakes would grab the rebound only to lose it out of bounds giving Rockford the ball with just 2 seconds remaining. Rockford would call a time out to let head coach Nick Allen set up their final play that would have to go the length of the floor. The ball was in bounded and swung to Rockford’s best shooter Carlson who heaved the near NBA range three pointer that spun around the rim and banked off the glass before falling in to give Rockford the spectacular win.

Rockford’s Scott Nikodemski led the Rams with 15 points and Carlson contributed for 12 off of four triples. Assisting Loudermill’s 18 was Ryan Williams-Follins with 7 and Oakes with 8. Rockford will go on to host East Kentwood next Tuesday night while Muskegon travels to Jenison for a match up with the Wildcats.

2011-2012 OK-RED STANDINGS
Team
Conference
Overall
Rockford
11
3
22
6
East Kentwood
11
3
18
4
Hudsonville
11
3
17
6
Grand Haven
8
6
14
11
Jenison
6
8
8
15
Muskegon
6
8
11
11
West Ottawa
3
11
8
13
Grandville
0
14
3
18

SCORES from Saturday, March 24
Rockford 42, Saginaw 54
Lansing Sexton 67, Stev-Lakeshore 32

Flint Beecher 74, St. Francis 60
Southfield Christian 76, Climax-Scotts 44