By Jim Goorman
Local Sports Journal
Muskegon Catholic Central held its own for the last 18 minutes of the game but it was not enough in a 53-50 setback to River Valley rival Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
A first-quarter drought by the Crusaders helped the Chargers to a 16-5 scoring advantage in the pivotal quarter.
Catholic made 2-of-11 shots in that quarter.
The Crusaders fought back late in the second quarter and trailed 25-21 at the half. Cari Campbell was instrumental in that comeback as he scored six points in theat quarter and ended the half with 10 points.
It took a shooting demonstration by Chargers’ Brandon Kaptein to secure a victory. He lit it up for four consecutive 3-pointers and a free throw in the final quarter to change a dramatic Catholic comeback into a Covenant victory.
MCC had fought back in the third quarter to take a 38- 35 lead, but it all dissolved with Kaptein’s heroics.
Brant McCollum did all he could scoring eight points in the last quarter.
Even then MCC had a chance to tie at the buzzer getting a highly pressured three point attempt by Adam Callow, but it came up short.
Catholic shot a respectable 47 percent from the field for the game, but only 2 for 17 from 3-point land. Covenant shot 44 percent from the field and 7-for-18 from beyond the 3-point line.
Covenant (3-4,2 -0) has been plagued with turnovers all season and finished with 17 in comparison to the Crusaders’ 7 miscues.
Campbell led MCC with 16 points and six rebounds and the scrappy McCollum ended with 14 points. Adam Callow finished with six rebounds for Catholic and helped the visitors to a slight 25- 23 rebounding edge.
Covenant Christian 53, Muskegon Catholic 50
MUSKEGON CATHOLIC
Campbell 8 0-0 16 Callow 2 1-2 6 Daniel 3 1-1 8 McCollum 7 0-0 14 Anderson 3 0-0 6 Totals: 23 2-3 50
COVENANT CHRISTIAN
Dykstra 2 1-2 5 Minderhout 2 2-2 7 Ben Noorman 7 0-0 14 Kaptein 5 3-4 17 Jared Noorman 4 0-0 10 Totals: 20 6-8 53
