By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director
sports@wktv.org
The East Kentwood Falcons and record-setting coach Jeff Anama’s basketball season came to an end Tuesday night at Caledonia High School, losing to Okemos, 50-45. And while their march toward MSU and the state championship game Saturday may have hit a road block, this team accomplished something that hadn’t been done by a boys basketball team from East Kentwood since 1998 — advancing to the quarterfinals.
The Falcons’ tournament run didn’t come easy as they survived three district games by a total of 11 points to advance to regionals.
The difference between winning and losing was just as small in the regional round when the Falcons won two games by a total of seven points. Three of their post season wins were against teams the Falcons had lost to on four occasions during the regular season.
“The guys never lost faith in each other and were better prepared for the rematch,” coach Anama said to WKTV. “When a team wins a couple of tough games, things can start rolling.”
Anama passed former East Kentwood coach Mickey Phelps in all-time coaching wins at the school with the regional championship win, which was his 220th.
Their final game of the season was a continuation of tight games as the largest lead by either team was seven points.
Okemos led 20-13 early in the second quarter, but East Kentwood came back with 14 straight to take a 27-20 lead early in the third quarter. Okemos, though, came back with 14 straight points of their own at the end of that quarter and to start the fourth to take a 44-37 lead.
The first quarter had both teams trading baskets as neither team had more than a two-point lead until just before the buzzer when Okemos leading scorer Evan Thomas hit a 3-pointer and was fouled by East Kentwood’s Josh Mayhue. After he converted the 4-point play, Okemos led 17-13 to close the quarter. Evans led all scorers with 10 points.
The second quarter was a very quiet stanza where the Falcons were able to take the lead at the half 22-20. Thomas had the only Okemos’ points as he connected on a 3-pointer in the first 20 seconds, but soon after picked up his second personal foul and had to sit for over half of the quarter. The Falcons were able to take advantage as they went on their run which included triples from Christopher Brown and Ryel Daye. Daye led the way with 10 points at the break.
It seemed like the Falcons were ready to take control early in the second half after five consecutive points from Daye, but the Chiefs were quick to respond with a pair of buckets, and a made foul shot in between, all by Grant Holtzer, and another triple by Evans. But East Kentwood held a 37-34 lead heading into the decisive fourth quarter.
However, the Falcons then hurt their cause by committing six of their unofficial 12 turnovers in that final quarter alone.
“The difference tonight was they won the fourth quarter as we didn’t finish strong, and they made free throws,” Anama said.
The Falcons totaled eight points in the fourth, but gave up 16 to close out the game and their season. Okemos guard Fabian Leone came alive with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Evans hit four key free throws late to put the final score out of reach.
The Falcons finish 16-10 on the season and were led by senior Daye with 19, junior Ja’moni Jones with nine, senior Brown with seven, and junior Jordan Jackson with six.
Okemos, now with a 23-2 record, was led by Evans with a game high 22 points, Leone with 10, and Holtzer with nine. The Chiefs will now face 24-2 Detroit U-D Jesuit in the Division 1 semifinals at MSU Friday, March 15.
