Rockford Rams 62, Grand Haven 52

Guards lead the way for Rockford basketball
by Rich Hull / Rockford Squire

The Rockford varsity basketball team is blessed this year with not only the best two-guard tandum in the area with Mike Redell and Drew Powell, but they go one better with Kevin Wurn. This gives the Rams a triple threat that not many teams have an answer for, as each is capable of leading the team on any given night. Wurn led the way at East Kentwood before Redell got hot late in the game—and it was Redell again at Grandville this past week, along with the one-two punch of Powell in the first half and Redell in the second against Grand Haven last Friday.

The Rams trailed the host Bulldogs last Tuesday, 9-12 at the end of the first quarter, but turned it around a bit in the second to lead at the break, 24-21.

Rockford came out to start the second half and turned up the defensive pressure, holding the Dawgs to just four points in the third. Redell also found his touch again as he led the Rams on a 14-2 scoring burst, scoring 11 straight points. He drained three triples in a row and added a pair from the charity stripe to cap off the run. This pushed the lead to 44-25 heading into the final eight minutes of play, where they cruised from there to win, 55-33.

Redell finished with 20 points to lead all scorers and Powell tossed in 14. The Rams continued to show thier rebounding strength as well, snagging 30 boards to Grandville's 19. RC Douglas led the Rams with nine rebounds.

Powell took the cue against Grand Haven on Friday as he single handedly outscored the visiting Bucs, 19-17 in the first half. This led to the Rams leading, 28-17, at the break. Powell finished with 24 for the night.

Redell found his touch in the second half, scoring 12 of his 14 second-half points in the third quarter to help put the game out of reach after three, 47-31. Coach Steve Majerle cleared the bench with just over five minutes to play and that allowed the vistors to close the gap to 10 points, 62-52, for the final score.

"I thought that we played well," said Majerle. "We feed off of our guards. They all have the ability to penetrate and that leaves the opposing defenses in a bind. They have to decide whether to stop the penetration and we can kick the ball out to take a three, or do they allow the drive and take a chance on giving up a lay-up. Rockford hasn't seen guards like this in a very long time."


photo by Rockford Squire