Rockford Rams 49, Muskegon Big Reds 79

Defending state champion Big Reds pull away with big second half in boys basketball season opener

By Mark Opfermann | mopferma@mlive.com on December 12, 2014 10:35 PM, updated December 12, 2014 10:45 PM

ROCKFORD, MI – It took a half, but Muskegon’s boys basketball team picked up where it left off last season. The defending Class A state champion Big Reds kicked it into gear after halftime to pull away for a 79-49 victory against Rockford in the season opener for both teams and the MLive Muskegon Chronicle Game of the Week.

Muskegon, which went 28-0 last season, got a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds from senior center Deyonta Davis, and Joeviair Kennedy added 15 points for the Big Reds. Rockford never led, but stayed close throughout the first quarter and had an opportunity to keep it that way when Davis picked up his second foul with 6:07 in the second quarter and went to the bench for the rest of the half.

But Muskegon actually turned a 24-19 lead when Davis went out to a 41-30 spread at halftime. With Davis back in to start the second half, the Big Reds start the second half on a 10-2 run to put the game away. The Big Reds also started the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run.

MUSKEGON HIGHLIGHTS
Davis and Kennedy worked well together on the inside, but Muskegon had balanced scoring as seniors Jason Loera and Daryl Kirkland added nine points apiece in starting roles.  Jamel French also came off the bench to add seven points. Kennedy didn’t force the action as all of his scoring came in the final three quarters. He hit five field goals and went 5-of-5 at the foul line. Davis, who set a state record for blocks in a season with 199 last year, didn’t take long to record another. He blocked Rockford’s first shot of the game.

ROCKFORD HIGHLIGHTS
Sophomore Jason Majerle got the start for the Rams and finished with a team-high 12 points. His dad, Steve, a former Rockford head coach, was back on the bench for the night as an assistant. Rockford’s Andrew Heider added 10 points for the Rams off the bench. The Rams also got a strong game from senior forward Jacob VanCuren, but he picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and Muskegon started to pull away.