After a blowout win against Lowell in which every player contributed, the freshman basketball team set its sights on a new target. East Grand Rapids came into the jungle on Tuesday and this game meant more than just an average matchup.

“We know that in order to win the conference, we have to beat our cross-town rival,” Billy Musgraves said. “We played East well last game but this game was a completely new one.”

Head coach Gordon Shields preached the idea of getting out to a fast start right out of the gate and that’s exactly what the team did; Brendan Cargill led a 7-0 run to force an early East Grand Rapids timeout. It was evident that East could match FHC’s height but it could not match the Rangers’ athleticism. While East pressured the Rangers on the boards early, the boys’ defense stayed solid. With an impressive defensive performance mixed with consistent offense, the Rangers led the Pioneers 15-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Aaron Schellenburg had a majestic start to the second quarter, making hustle plays and playing aggressive defense. Although East Grand Rapids had a 6’6 big man, Braedon Rozema still had his way on the boards and had a few finishes as well. The Rangers continued their fast pace and led the Pioneers 30-14 at the half. 

The message of getting out to a fast start was emphasized once again in the second half.

“We had a solid first-half performance but we knew the game was not over,” coach Shields said. “Our second-half start was the most important part of the game and we delivered.” 

Just like his first-quarter start, Brendan Cargill led the Rangers on an early run with back-to-back threes. The energy definitely increased in the second half for FHC, which sparked a big run. With stellar defense and overwhelming pressure on the boards, the Rangers only gave up five points in the first seven minutes of the quarter. To end the third quarter, FHC led its rivals 43-22. 

It was the same story in the fourth quarter, with Braedon Rozema dominating down low and Brendan Cargill scoring with ease. The Rangers had a lot of fun and ended up winning 56-30. Brendan Cargill had a team-high 21 points in the rivalry victory. Braedon Rozema added 10 points while Denis Medic had eight points. Aaron Schellenburg played lockdown defense and scored six points of his own. 

“This game meant a lot to me because of the fact that I have connections at East and I used to coach there,” coach Shields said. “It felt great and we’ll celebrate this win and move on.” 

After the crucial win against East Grand Rapids, the boys freshman team improves to 11-2 on the season and continues its dominant streak within the conference. In their next game on Friday, February 11, the Rangers take on another rival in the Forest Hills Northern Huskies.

“Our goal of winning the conference is still on the table and we have a lot to prove still,” Brendan Cargill said. “Forest Hills Northern is a tough matchup but we’re ready for them.”