Eagles suffer first (and only) loss of season
GRCC explodes for 28-point run to down Ferndale in D2 semifinal
The final score read 81-55, but Ferndale had a shot to hand Grand Rapids Catholic Central its first and only loss of the season.
The Eagles led the unbeaten Cougars late in the third quarter, 44-42, but GRCC then showed its championship-caliber play by scoring 28 consecutive points to pull away from Ferndale and secure an 81-55 victory in the Division 2 semifinal played at Van Andel Arena.
“You never like to lose a
game. It was a tough game,” Ferndale coach Juan Rickman said. “It got away from us. We let up some easy shots and gave up a lot of points to the three guys we wanted to keep from scoring. You lose games like that.”
Ferndale junior Jason Drake put on an offensive show during the first three quarters of play and his bucket with
2:31 to play put the Eagles ahead 44-42 after trailing 35-25 at halftime.
“We knew that it was going to be a battle of a game and it felt like that the entire time,” GRCC coach TJ Meerman said. “We have seen enough film on Ferndale to know they are a really great team and wellcoached. Coming out of halftime, we knew they were going to make a push. That’s what they do. They are a championship program as well.”
That Drake basket would be the last points that Ferndale would score for the next 7:06 of gameplay.
GRCC (19-0) would score the final six points of the third quarter – five coming from guard Jorden Brooks – to give the Cougars a 48-44 lead entering the fourth.
That momentum would carry into the final frame, with the Cougars scoring the first 22 points to put the game out of reach.
“Our defense initiated a lot of offense for us,” Meerman said of the run. “We rebounded the ball a lot better. I am just proud of our guys. Our team defense and the way they shared the ball on offense was a special thing.”
Brooks knocked down four 3-pointers during the 28-point rally.
“A couple of calls didn’t go our way and we didn’t get back. Offensively, we could have done a better job of being more deliberate. (GRCC) found (Brooks) in transition a couple of times and he knocked down three or four 3’s during that stretch. We needed to do a better job of finding him,” Rickman said.
The poor finish to the game overshadowed a strong showing from Drake, who scored 27 points for Ferndale and kept the Eagles in the game throughout the opening three quarters.
“He’s a fantastic player,” Meerman said of Drake. “He’s a really tough guard. He’s a Division 1 (college) guard.”
Drake would be the only double-figure scorer for Ferndale. Caleb Renfroe added nine points, while Treyvon Lewis had eight.
Brooks finished with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, for GRCC. Kaden Brown led the Cougars in scoring with 23 points, while Jack Karasinski
had 19.
GRCC advances to Saturday’s Division 2 state championship where it will look to complete a perfect season.
Ferndale ends its 2021 campaign at 14-5 with an OAA Red title, district title and regional title to its credit while making its first semifinal appearance in over 30 years.
The Eagles will graduate just two seniors – Jack Kennedy and Patrick Washington – while returning a lot of talent. Headlining the group will be Drake and Lewis, who averaged a combined 35 points per game this season.
“It was a challenging year, the whole year, just with COVID and not having a summer. We are a young team. Jason Drake is new. I don’t think he’s been with us for three months, so just a lot of learning on the fly and developing leadership. (Drake and Lewis) can be great leaders, but giving them a summer to learn how to lead a little bit better and how to direct their teammates (will be beneficial),” Rickman said. “We have to learn to play a little harder, but I think it’s a learning experience. I think we will be back next year.”