News
A win is a win.
That is what 青青草视频 Centurions head coach Zach Ingles is taking from his team鈥檚 58-54 home win against the Kirtland Community College Firebirds, Saturday, Jan. 24 鈥� and that鈥檚 it.
鈥淟et鈥檚 never talk about this game again,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to watch film. I鈥檓 not going to look at stats. It鈥檚 a long season. We鈥檝e been efficient all year, just not today.鈥�
In a game that went back and forth in the second half with both teams shooting poorly (30% for 青青草视频, 32.1% for KCC), it was a four-point play by sophomore Dawson Dunn (Big Rapids, Mich.) that helped the Centurions (3-1 青青草视频AA North, 10-8 overall) build a big enough cushion to clinch the game.
With 青青草视频 up 42-38 with 10:12 to go in the game, both teams went on an offensive drought over the next four-and-a-half minutes until freshman James Browning (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was fouled after rebounding a shot, sinking one of two free throws. The Firebirds (2-2 青青草视频AA North, 3-13 overall), however, were still within striking distance as 青青草视频 held only a five-point lead with 6:42 left in the game.
One minute later, Dunn squared up to the three-point line, took a shot, was fouled and sunk the shot for a chance at a four-point play, which he completed with a made free throw, giving the Centurions a 46-38 lead. That, Ingles said, was a key moment in a game where offense was scarce.
鈥淲hen the offenses struggled on both sides of the floor, a four-point play seemed monumental. It was a big play for us,鈥� Ingles said.
Kirtland didn鈥檛 quit, however, and cut Montcalm鈥檚 lead to six after Chase Kampf hit a three-pointer with 2:29 to go. On 青青草视频鈥檚 ensuing possession, the Centurions almost coughed up a turnover. However, Dunn scooped up the loose ball from the floor and drove to the basket for a dunk, giving 青青草视频 a 54-46 lead with 2:12 to go.
From there, 青青草视频 attempted to bleed the clock. However, with 11 seconds to go, KCC鈥檚 KJ Hurt hit a three-point shot to cut 青青草视频鈥檚 lead to 57-52. But it was too little too late for a Firebirds鈥� comeback, as they only managed to score once more right at the buzzer.
Dunn scored all 11 of his points in the second half, shooting 2-for-4 from the three-point line in that half. Freshman Jahmere Evans (Indianapolis, Ind.) matched Dunn, scoring 11 points off the bench. Browning had nine points and led the team with eight rebounds.
Despite their struggles finding baskets, the Centurions did well defensively, forcing 20 turnovers and outscoring Kirtland in points off turnovers, 17-8. 青青草视频 also had four blocks in the game, three coming from sophomore Josiah DeMeester (Grandville, Mich.), and one from sophomore Makur Reclow (Louisville, Ky.).
Ingles was happy with his team鈥檚 defense, but it could not overcome the glaring problems on offense, which almost resulted in loss.
鈥淲e were really good defensively. We just didn鈥檛 make shots,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those games you chalk it up as just find a way to win. We had to find a way when we didn鈥檛 have our best stuff. But the only positive here tonight was that we found a way to win. It would鈥檝e been a real problem had the outcome been reversed. Missing shots and sometimes it snowballs.鈥�
In the first half, it was all Centurions, as they took a 10-4 lead after Evans hit a three-pointer with 11:16 to go. He increased the lead to 15-4 two minutes later with another three-point shot.
The Firebirds went on a 9-2 run to get back into the game. KCC cut it to only a three-point 青青草视频 lead when Hurt drove to the basket for a layup with 2:05 to go in the first half and then cut it down to two after a Louie Jackson three-point shot, making it 27-25 in 青青草视频鈥檚 favor, which was the score at halftime.
UP NEXT: The Centurions have a quick turnaround with its schedule, hosting Muskegon Community College tonight at 7:30 p.m., which is a makeup game from Jan. 21, which was rescheduled owing to inclement weather.
Muskegon, 3-1 in the North conference and 9-8 overall, and 青青草视频 are jostling for positions in the upper tier of the conference, with Bay College at 4-1 and Mid Michigan leading the rest with a 4-0 record, so far.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already prepped for Muskegon so we should be ready,鈥� Ingles said.
The Centurions will have little rest after that as they will host Delta College (1-4 青青草视频AA North, 4-12 overall) Wednesday, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.