By Justin Stulpe
The Grand Rapids Community College men’s basketball team vanquished Kirtland Community College, thrashing KCC to a final score of 118-66. The Raiders dominated the game using both stifling defense and exceptional team shooting to cruise to a 52-point victory over the Firebirds.
The Raiders came out strong, building a lead that grew to as many as 30 points in the first half. Behind seven 3-pointers and 48.8% shooting from the field, GRCC scored 55 points in the first 20 minutes of action, meanwhile the Raiders held Kirtland Community College to just 25 points in the half. The dominant performance allowed GRCC to build a lead they would not surrender, securing a decisive victory for their fourth consecutive win.
Head coach Joe Fox said the defensive side of the ball was a key focus heading into the matchup, adding that the Raiders did a phenomenal job of “causing a lot of pressure and turnovers,” something that Fox knew he wanted from his squad coming into the game. The game plan proved effective in dictating the pace and outcome, as GRCC turned 18 KCC turnovers—10 of which came in the first half—into a commanding lead that reached as many as 55 points in the second half.
KCC started the game in a 2-3 zone defense, but GRCC quickly found ways to exploit it, ultimately leading to a scoring barrage that culminated in their highest point total of the season. A 42-19 scoring run by the Raiders in the first half against the zone was the result of excellent game planning and execution, as Fox notes that the Raiders used designed sets that were effective and repeatable against the zone defense, allowing them to score at will.
With a comfortable lead early in the game, the Raiders heavily utilized their bench, which produced the two highest scoring performances of the contest. Freshman Darius Baker led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while freshman Zeekeal Jackson added 16 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots and leading the team with three steals. Freshman Gaden Muxlow contributed eight points and a game-high seven rebounds, while sophomore Jack Agema recorded a game-high six assists.
KCC struggled to score against the Raiders’ aggressive defense, posting their lowest point total of the season. Jayvion Sims led the Firebirds with 16 points and four rebounds, while Wesley Saint Juste added 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.
With the win over KCC, GRCC improves to 7-2 on the season. The Raiders are now averaging 90.6 points per game in the young season and a mind-boggling 102.5 per game during their four-game winning streak. They will next face Washtenaw Community College on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at Ford Fieldhouse, aiming to extend their streak to five games and continue their high-scoring ways against WCC.
