By Justin Stulpe
The Grand Rapids Community College men’s basketball team earned a hard-fought 92-83 victory over Kellogg Community College, extending its winning streak to 11 games. The Raiders improved to 14-2 on the season on Jan. 11 at Ford Fieldhouse, matching their win total from all of last year in just 16 games. The contest was highly competitive throughout, featuring numerous lead changes and big scoring runs, making for an entertaining matchup from start to finish.
GRCC faced off against the Bruins, who entered the game on a nine-game winning streak of their own, with similar dominance during that stretch as the Raiders. The two red-hot teams battled in a contest marked by explosive offense and stifling defense, with GRCC emerging victorious by the second smallest margin of victory during this impressive 11-game streak.
The two teams started the game evenly, being tied at 20-20 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. GRCC then went on one of several runs by both teams, building an 11-point lead late in the half thanks to fast-break scores and emphatic dunks from freshman guard Tyran Thomas. The Raiders led by nine at halftime, scoring 48 points in the first 20 minutes against a Bruins defense that had allowed an average of a minuscule 57 points per game during their nine-game winning streak.
Thomas helped propel GRCC to a strong first-half performance, along with freshman guards Zeekeal Jackson and Marshaun Flakes leading the team in scoring. Jackson finished with an efficient 14 points and Flakes added a key 10. Every bucket was crucial for the Raiders as they worked to break down the stingy defense of KCC, a team known for its size and length, with every player on the roster standing 6 feet or taller.
Although GRCC led at halftime, KCC came out strong in the second half, using a dominant 25-10 scoring run to take control. The Bruins held the Raiders to just 10 points through the 9:49 mark, smothering GRCC with a zone defense that suppressed their offense for an extended period. After a timeout to regroup, KCC decided to switch to man-to-man defense, and from that point on, it was all GRCC.
Head Coach Joe Fox notes how some mid-game adjustments helped to swing the tide of the game back in favor of his squad. He notes that in response to KCC’s zone-defense, GRCC had to ultimately “jump them a little bit defensively to try and get a little more transition opportunities.”
A crucial 3-pointer by Thomas tied the game 64-64, and GRCC never looked back, going on a game-defining 34-19 run to seal the victory. The Raiders scored 34 points in the final nine minutes, fueled by 23-of-31 shooting from the free-throw line, many of those coming in the closing moments to put the game on ice. Fox has emphasized the need for improvement in free-throw shooting, particularly in tight games, and the team certainly delivered in the second-half comeback to remain in the win column.
Jackson led all players with a career-high 25 points, along with 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Joining Jackson in the offensive effort, Flakes, Thomas and sophomore guard Bashir Neely each scored 16 points, with the quartet carrying much of the scoring load. Flakes and Neely also had three steals each, while Jackson and Thomas added two, combining for 10 crucial turnovers that immensely aided GRCC in securing the win. Sophomore wing Javon Golson also contributed a solid interior presence, scoring eight points and grabbing eight rebounds in 25 minutes of play.
Kellogg CC was led in scoring by sophomore guard Jakeem Cole, who recorded 24 points and four rebounds. Freshman forward Michael Okello posted a double-double with a dozen points and rebounds, while freshman guard Travis Randolph added an efficient 10 points in just six minutes of play. Freshman guard Timothy Williams chipped in nine points and three steals, while sophomore guard Mikial Miller scored seven points and recorded a team-high four assists in the loss.
GRCC, now winners of 11 straight, opened their conference schedule with a statement victory over a tough Kellogg Community College team. The Raiders will look to carry the momentum from the past month and a half into their next contest against Lake Michigan College.
Fox said this was a big win for the team, but there are many teams within the conference that are extremely talented, similar to KCC, and noted that the Raiders need to stay ready for all of the matchups with great teams they will inevitably face.
“It’s just a battle every night so as long as we are ready to go, we will have them prepped. We just gotta make sure we are locked in for every start,” Fox said.
The Raiders will be aiming to extend their winning streak to a record 12 games when they host the Red Hawks at Ford Fieldhouse on Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in their first meeting of the season. Last year, the teams split their two conference matchups.
