January 7, 2012
Two of the top teams in the OK Red division took the floor Friday night when the Hudsonville Eagles hosted the Rockford Rams. Both teams entered Friday nights contest at 3-2 with some marquee wins being had by both teams. It was Hudsonville who started off strong but Chad Carlson and the Rams were the ones celebrating in the end with a 49-34 victory.
The Eagles seemed to have a grasp on the flow of the game through the first half never giving up the lead even once. They started early by going to 6’6” guard and one of the top talents in West Michigan Blake Hibbits who hit a three from the corner on his first touch which was punctuated with a “pop” from the brown paper bags brought in by the Hudsonville student section. Rockford would tie the game just once in the first half at just over 2 minutes to go before trailing at the end of the half 23-19.
Whether it was an inspiring speech by First year coach Nick Allen or a new found sense of urgency the second half was a different story for the Rams as they outscored Hudsonville 30-15. They gained the lead at the 4:34 mark in the third and by the end of their 19 point third quarter Rockford led 38-29. Nine of those nineteen came in the last one minute and thirty six seconds with two triples by Chad Carlson including his last as the buzzer sounded. Rockford played tough team orientated basketball throughout the night and Hudsonville struggled to get any one guy going. Carlson would end the night with a game high 19 points. Mitch Caywood added 12 points and Scott Nikodenski contributed with another 10 points for the Rams. Hudsonville’s Blake Hibbits led the Eagles with 14 points and BJ Van Loo contributed for another 7.
Rockford moves to 2-0 in conference play and travels to Grand Haven next Tuesday night. Hudsonville falls to 1-1 in conference and will head to Muskegon for another tough OK Red showdown this Tuesday night as well.
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