Rockford/EGR matchup carries secondary implications

December 10, 2009 Comments { 11 }

by

It’s pretty much a toss-up between Rockford and East Grand Rapids for the pre-season bridesmaid trophy, as the second most talented basketball team in West Michigan (after Kalamazoo Central).  I’ve heard compelling arguments from pundits on either side of the rivalry (and I have my feelings, too), but there’s really no resolving the issue without some sort of a head-to-head, mano-y-mano matchup.  So I guess for the time being we’ll all just have to learn to live with the ambiguity.

Time’s up.

The MHSAA knows that fans don’t like ambiguity, and to their credit they’re one step ahead in resolving the situation.  What better way to kick off the Friday night portion of the 2009/2010 boys basketball season than with a Rockford / East Grand Rapids matchup?  Might as well preempt all that heated debating and gesticulating, and lock down the basketball hierarchy in West Michigan straight away.  That way fans on both sides of the fence can agree to move forward as friends.

What to expect from Rockford:

Rockford graduated a big chunk of their starting lineup from 2008/9, including leading scorer Gabe Vanderjagt.  But what they lack in experience they more than make up for in talent.  They’re lead by junior Ryan Majerle, who is capable of playing any position on the floor and had some big-game experience in the playoffs last year.  Newcomer Justin Klein is the most talented player on the team, even as a sophomore.  The big question mark is whether or not the point guard will have the consistency and temperament needed to run the Rockford machine.

What to expect from East Grand Rapids:

Last year, East Grand Rapids made a deep run into the playoffs behind the duo of Colin Voss and A.J. McEwen, before losing to eventual state runner-up Zeeland East.  Both of their stars return for their senior year, and after playing together on the Grand Rapids Storm all summer they should be significantly improved (believe it or not).  With the Voss/McEwen sequel clearly of the new-and-improved variety, the Pioneers should be extremely good come playoff time.  But maybe not yet, since eight of their 11 total players may still be in football mode coming off of their fourth consecutive state championship.

Will Rockford’s potential translate to production?  Will EGR’s football prowess continue onto the court?  It could go either way on Friday night and nobody would be surprised.  At least then we’ll know who can rightfully claim “we’re number two!”

Keep up with the latest action and analysis by becoming a WMA fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMA on Twitter.  Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

About ryan vaughn

View all Articles by ryan vaughn →
  • cmuama

    EGR isn’t ready yet. They won’t start to gel for quite some time. I think Rockford will win comfortably. But if they played later, I think EGR would win.

    • okgoldcity

      EGR will win they only need a couple of practices to gel with each other I know these snow days have been killing them, but I still think playing in that scrimmage last week and practicing on monday will help EGR. I dont think Rockford is that tough yeah they have a great coach and good talent, but they are young and this EGR team has a lot coming back and they know how to play while there in football shape they did it last year as well. Voss will dominate, EGR will win this game.

      • redwatch

        Young? NINE SENIORS, Two Juniors and one Soph

        • okgoldcity

          2 best are young. I mean there top 2 players are young Klein is on Varsity for the 1st time and will play a lot of mins and lead his team thats what i mean young he is a sophmore, and Marlie is a junior.

          • redwatch

            A two year starter still would not be young for a high school player (that would make your OH team young or should I say younger) and Klein may play less mins than the first two guys off the bench. He still has to prove the talent on the court and earn his mins. The Coach is not going to play him over a senior with experience in less he is better and gives the TEAM a better shot at winning. We will have to see who’s on the court at the end of the game when it’s on the line. And those are only two of twelve players thats less than 17% of the TEAM.

  • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

    Thank you, cmuama and okgoldcity, for proving my point. One thing’s for sure – we’ll all enjoy the heck out of the game!

  • John Smith

    Yeah I got Rockford winning they looked good at there scrimmage last Saturday at Rockford. Yeah they are young, but those young players can play. The coach is a great coach and he will always have Rockford ready for the big game. EGR is going to look slow, but they been through the football thang a lot. It will be a great game, but Rockford has to many shooters, and I think it will be a bigger crowd on the Rockford side then the EGR side. EGR fans need to show up and cheer there team on they got a good team this year possible state championship team on its way.

    • http://www.westmiallstar.com/ Ryan Vaughn

      You mention that EGR will look slow — I wonder how much the speed of basketball relative to football will affect them. Will they be shocked right out of the gates, or is a week enough preparatory time?

      And a bigger Rockford crowd when playing @EGR? Seriously? Do we think the Pioneer fan base is tired of winning?

  • John Smith

    Basketball speed is way faster then football speed. Basketball is up and down all the way through.

    But I mean everyone knows EGR is a football school and all there football games are always packed and loud, but inside the basketball gym the fans aren’t really into the game and the seats are full like they are during football. I mean EGR has great fan support for football, but in basketball they dont have it. EGR is good and I hope there side full this year cause they are going to be a nice team probably better then the year they beat Godwin Heights.

  • Bob

    Is AJ playing?

  • risktker

    Ready? Let the excuses begin. We could postpone this one until June and EGR still won’t be ready. Voss is a beast, but EGR simply can’t match up with the Rams. Too much early hype on both of these teams, but the Rams win this one by a comfortable margin.