Who’s going to win the OK-Red?

Photo courtesy of Lou Murray

 

One of my favorite times of year is February when the league standings start to shape up and each game has more significance on who is going to be crowned league champions.  The OK-Red boys division is setting up to have an epic finish as four teams sit on top of the conference standings as the second lap of league play starts on Friday.

 

Obviously, each team controls its own destiny however one team has a slight edge to cutting the nets and hoisting the coveted conference trophy.  What does each team need to do to win it all?

 

Grandville.  The Bulldogs are the biggest surprise after the first round of conference play with a 5-2 record however a 21-47 loss to Rockford followed by a non-conference loss to Grand Rapids Christian have the Bulldogs in a must win situation.  With West Ottawa on Friday followed by Caledonia, the Bulldogs could right the ship and make a run.  Look for the Bulldogs to finish in the middle of the pack when conference play finishes up.

 

East Kentwood. The Falcons also find themselves in unfamiliar territory on top of the OK-Red conference however the injury bug has hit them.  The Falcons made a splash after a big come from behind road win against Rockford however I see the Falcons struggling down the stretch and finishing in the middle of the pack.

 

Hudsonville. The Eagles are riding a four-game win streak with impressive wins at Grand Haven and at home against East Kentwood last week.  Coach Elliott’s teams usually peak at the right time. We’ll see if they can avenge a loss to Rockford earlier in the season by a score of 41-44 on the road.  The rematch is scheduled for Feb. 10 and you’re not going to want to miss it.  The winner could be cutting the nets at the end league play.  They also must finish against Grand Haven and East Kentwood which makes for tough sledding.

 

Rockford.  The Rams are the hottest team in the red right now winning their last five conference games.  After starting with a loss to the Buccaneers on the road and the Falcons at home, Coach Clough has his team peaking at the right time.  If the Rams can cut their turnovers down they will be three-peat champions in the red.  The Rams start with the Bucs, Falcons and Eagles which will give an indication if they’ll win it outright or share the title.

 

The best part about all this, is each team controls their own destiny which is a treat for all the high school basketball fans in the west Michigan area.