Article courtesy of MLIVE.com
East Kentwood girls basketball team wins ugly game at Rockford
Jeff Chaney | grsports@mlive.com, February 21, 2012 10 p.m.
ROCKFORD – Protecting your home court is always important in a tight conference race.
Earlier this season the Rockford girls basketball team went on the road and beat East Kentwood.
The visiting Falcons repaid the favor Tuesday, beating Rockford 52-41 in a very physical game that saw 45 fouls called and 47 free throws attempted by both teams.
With the win, East Kentwood remained in second place in the league behind leader Grand Haven. Rockford fell two games behind the Falcons in third place.
“The last game, we took them for granted,” East Kentwood coach Jimmy Carter said of the Rams’ four-point win earlier in the season.
“They came to play in that game, and they beat us. They are a good team and they play hard, and I told my girls that we have to be prepared to play a whole game.”
RELATED: View photo gallery from game
The Falcons (11-2, 16-3) came to play Tuesday, especially on defense.
East Kentwood struggled early in the game on the offensive end, but its defense and rebounding kept them in the game.
Rockford (9-4, 11-8) ran out to a 12-10 lead after the first quarter, but the Falcons for the Rams into seven second-quarter turnovers that allowed East Kentwood to take a 22-20 lead into the break.
“That’s what we hang our hat on, our defense,” Carter said.
The Rams played a cleaner third quarter, and trailed by just three points heading into the fourth quarter.
But six turnover in the fourth quarter, being out-rebounded 12-4 and watching East Kentwood make 13 of 16 free throws in the final quarter while the Rams were just four of nine turned a close game into a comfortable win for the Falcons.
“That was a battle,” Rockford coach Jessica Yonkers said. “Both teams played hard, and it was a very physical game. We just missed a lot of free throws in that fourth quarter and they didn’t, and that was the difference.”
Yonkers also acknowledged that East Kentwood’s pressing defense never allowed her team to get in to any kind of offensive rhythm.
“East Kentwood always puts a lot of pressure and is very physical every possession,” Yonkers said. “We could have made better decisions with the ball, but that’s what they do.”
Chrijuan Carter led all scorers with 16 points, including hitting 12 of 17 free throws.
Jordyn Ryfiak led Rockford in scoring with 13 points.
GOOO EK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
