By Randy Gregory, Michigan Sports Radio
Photo by Miles Postema
The girls’ basketball team from Rockford had already clinched at least a share of the OK Red title coming into action this past week. But they were not in a sharing mood as they rolled to two more wins to move to 9-0 in conference play and 19-1 overall. They first ventured into Hudsonville against a red-hot Eagle squad, that was fresh off of an upset of Grand Haven, and won 57-45 on Tuesday, February 11. They followed that up by running roughshod over a 10-7 Grandville team 65-24 on Friday, February 14 on senior night.
“Hudsonville was on a six and oh streak and we were playing at their place while they were fighting to stay alive in the OK Red race,” said Rockford Coach Brad Wilson. “So we definitely got their best punch and Josie Desmit was on fire for them early so it was a tough game from the start. But credit to our players because we made enough plays to win and we got the stops we needed. And offensively, we had quite a few people contributing and Kate (Higgins) was great on the boards and Anna (Wypych) was obviously just herself and it was a huge win for us. This is our third straight conference championship and we are just super proud of our kids and we will continue to get better as we move forward. I also thought Addison (Wypych) was absolutely fabulous today. She really is no longer a freshman, right? She was knocking down threes, making assists and getting stops on defense. We are ramping up Sienna’s (Wolfe) playing time gradually and the more game shape she gets in coming off her injury, the better we will get going forward.”
Hudsonville jumped out to an early 10-7 lead as Desmit was the offense for the Eagles. But the Rams stayed in touch thanks to Addison Wypych and eventually took control in the second quarter, even with Anna Wypych sitting due to foul trouble. Rockford held a narrow 16-12 lead after the first quarter and increased it to 30-18 at the half as they clamped down defensively. Anna Wypych scored all eight of her first half points in the opening quarter while Addison Wypych ended the half with nine. Jordan Mateer had a pair of threes for six points in the opening sixteen minutes and Wolfe added five of her own.
The Rams eventually built the lead to 18 points in the third quarter, but Hudsonville continued to stay in the area code with solid moments of their own. It was a 48-34 game after three quarters with Anna Wypych pouring in twelve in the third quarter alone. A late three in the final quarter from Hudsonville made it a 57-45 final and the Rams emerged with a solid win over a talented opponent.
The Rams got off to a bit of a slow start against Grandville and led only 12-8 after the first quarter. But it was all Rams from that point forward as they rolled to the 65-24 win. Over the final three quarters the Rams outscored Grandville 53-16 to cement the win.
“It was mid-winter break today and some of the kids have been battling the flu and senior night as well so there were a lot of distractions,” said Wilson. “And I think it is good for our kids to be challenged, right? But I felt we rebounded quickly, and really. By the end of the game the floodgates were open, and we were getting contributions from everybody. I was super-stoked about the way we came back and finished the game.”
Anna Wypych led the Rams with 29 points despite playing only three quarters in what has been a common theme for her as the Rams have had firm control in many of their contests at that juncture this season. She also added to her litany of records in basketball at Rockford by pouring in seven three-pointers. Despite seeing just about every defense an opponent could throw at her over the course of the season, Wypych did what she always does. And that is to score in every manner possible. Inside or outside it doesn’t matter as she just goes about her business. It was a fitting cap to the home career of the ultra-talented senior.
“Anna (Wypych) is just steady as a rock,” said Wilson. “She just provides such consistent offense and is one of our best defenders as well. It is really tough to see her play her final game at Rockford, but we are hoping to make a deep run in March. I think sometimes people take it for granted that it is just another day, and she is going to score 20 points and it is easy. But it is not easy, and I hope that our team can finish the right way in honor of her and she can also get the Miss Basketball award.”
“Des Donley had a great night for herself on senior night as well,” said Wilson. “She is such a competitor and maximizes the minutes she gets. We have so much depth it is hard to give every player as much time as they deserve, and she falls into that category. She is just a player that gives everything she has all of the time and is so valuable to our team. Audrey (Muterspaugh) was also everywhere on the court defensively. She plays soccer as well and has so much energy and great anticipation defensively that teams have to account for her every second, she is on the floor.”
Donley finished the game with nine points to compliment Wypych. Mateer and freshman Kendall Bires also added six points each to the Rams cause in the win.
The Rams will finish the regular season with a pair of road games this week. They will first venture to Frankenmuth on Tuesday, February 18 to take on the number three ranked squad in Division 2 before playing at Holland West Ottawa on Friday, February 21.
