NEWAYGO – Big moments were not in short supply in Newaygo Wednesday, Feb. 26, as Hart’s boys basketball team found a way to erase an early deficit, emerging with a 56-55 victory over Big Rapids.
Hart and Big Rapids had nearly identical records heading into the game, and that showed early. Both teams struggled to break through the other’s defense, leading to a scoreless game after the first few minutes had ticked away. The Cardinals broke through first, going on an 8-0 run to start the game, forcing the Pirates to fight from behind.
Freshman Kolton Rockwell found the bottom of the net first for Hart, but it wasn’t enough to spark the offense completely. Avery Guikema added another layup for the Pirates, but a 15-4 deficit is where things stood after the first eight minutes.
Guikema caught fire in the second quarter, allowing Hart to find their footing on the offensive end. Guikema added six more points to his total, and was joined by sharp shooting from Caleb Ackley and Jagger Lenon – each of whom sank baskets from three point range.
“My father-in-law Russ Doane wanted to go with Avery (Guikema) for an extended period of time,” Hart Head Coach Nick Bronsema said. “We know what we’re going to get for him in terms of hustle and effort, but to see good things happen to a kid like that…you’re just really happy about it.”
A 7-0 run in the middle of the second helped keep Big Rapids’ lead from swelling, closing the first half out with a 24-19 lead for the Cardinals.
The Pirates found several more offensive runs in the third quarter. Rockwell found the first points of the quarter and, after Big Rapids hit a trey, the Pirates found a mini 6-0 run to tie the game up.
Trading blows, Hart’s offense found ways to match the Cardinals and keep the game knotted up. Ackley found his second three pointer of the night, sparking Hart to a 13-2 run in the third quarter, pushing the Pirates out to their first lead of the night. Ackley hit another deep shot to end the quarter, leaving Hart in front by eight heading into the fourth.
“Three? I didn’t know I was going to hit that many,” Ackley joked. “I was thinking after two, maybe I’ll miss this next one, but I just kept hitting. I keep shooting them in practice and I know they’re gonna fall eventually. Tonight, they did.”
That lead hit its highest point in the early minutes of the final quarter, with Guikema pushing the lead to 10. Big Rapids’ 6-foot-8-inch center Gabe Njenga, took it upon himself to kickstart the Cardinals, scoring 10 of his own in the final eight minutes.
With a seven point lead in the late stages of the game, Hart appeared to have things locked up. Fouls became a problem for the Pirates however, sending Big Rapids to the line for 12 shots from the charity stripe. Luckily, the Cardinals could not convert at a consistent clip, going 4-for-12 and keeping Hart in the driver’s seat.
Those four free throws, combined with a timely three point shot still ended up keeping the score tied at 53. Guikema found a huge layup for the Pirates to put them in front again, while Ackley earned a foul inside 10 seconds, giving him the chance to put Big Rapids out of the game.
Ackley went 1-for-2 on that trip to the line, with the second shot clanking off the rim and landing in the hands of Njenga.
In need of a three, Njenga took the ball coast-to-coast and, in an astounding lapse of judgement, charged towards the paint for an easy dunk. With the clock still running, Njenga’s teammates looked around in disbelief as the clock ran out on the game and Big Rapids’ season.
Just as shocked was the crowd. As for Ackley, he knew a clear lane to the hoop would be too much for Njenga to neglect.
“I didn’t expect it to end exactly like that, but I knew if we forced him to go for a layup it would eliminate the chance of a three,” Ackley said. “When I saw him go by for the dunk, I just let him have it.”
Hart was led by Ackley with a double-double effort, including 16 points and 11 rebounds. Guikema added 13 points and Rockwell finished with 10 to go along with six rebounds.
The Pirates push their record to 16-7 overall and will head back to Newaygo Friday, Feb. 28 for a district finals meeting with Ludington at 7 p.m.
