Class A: Ram Nation Books Return
March 23, 2012
EAST LANSING – The final buzzer sounded before Romulus’ last-gasp 3-point shot reached the rim Friday at the Breslin Center.
As Rockford’s Mark Pearson watched the ball complete its arc, he figured good or not, it wouldn’t take away from the incredible run his unranked Rams made this postseason.
“We’ve worked so hard this year, and to just see that shot go up … all our practices, all our summer stuff we’ve done, and all through the year, it’s all been worth it,” Pearson said. “If it would’ve gone in, we wouldn’t have been satisfied. But by the same token, it (would’ve been) a good year.
“But we’ve got one more now.”
When that final shot caromed off the rim, the Rams celebrated a 62-61 victory and their first championship game berth since winning the Class A title in 2003.
Rockford will face top-ranked Saginaw in the Final at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles, ranked No. 2 at the start of the tournament, finished 22-4.
The Rams (22-5) split the O-K Red title with both Hudsonville and East Kentwood this season, and needed to make some key plays to get to Breslin – especially after trailing Okemos by 10 in Tuesday’s Quarterfinal.
Rockford gave up its most points Friday since opening night – but also scored its second-most this season.
“Maybe people were underestimating them. We were being a little bit too laid back on defense,” Romulus senior Ray Lee said.
And the Rams showed plenty of guts again when it counted in the Semifinal.
After the teams come out of halftime tied, Romulus began breaking away in the third quarter and went up 49-44 with a period to play. The Eagles’ lead stood at six with 5:50 to play. It seemed their time to secure a Finals bid had come.
Not so.
Rockford went on an 11-0 run that included all four of standout junior guard Chad Carlson’s points, plus five of junior Chase Fairfield’s game-high 17. With 1:43 to play, Romulus suddenly found itself down five, 59-54.
“You hope and you wish and you pray, but making those expectations is tough,” Rockford coach Nick Allen said. “We hoped and wished, and maybe prayed a little bit too.”
Seniors Mitch Caywood and Ivy Johnson would provide a few more answers.
Johnson hit two free throws to give the Rams a 61-57 lead with 1:16 to play, but Romulus knotted the score again with 31 seconds left. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 sub, was fouled again with 7.6 seconds to play.
His first free throws went off the back of the rim. He second fell to give Rockford a 62-61 lead. But Romulus still had hope – until Caywood dashed it a bit by stealing the inbounds pass.
Rockford did miss two more free throws after that. But with only 3.4 seconds left, the Eagles couldn’t set up much more than the final 3-point try.
Johnson and Caywood both finished with 11 points, while senior guard Scott Nikodemski had 12. Junioe Elbert Matthews and senior Aveon Simmons led Romulus with 15 apiece, and Lee added 13.
The Eagles have now made at least the Semifinals in four of the last eight seasons – but Friday’s loss was the latest in a frustrating run. Romulus lost by one point in its 2009 Semifinal and by two in overtime in 2008. The Eagles made the Class A Final in 2005, but lost by three.
“It’s hard to do. I can say that, because we were ranked No. 1 in the state the last two years and didn’t make it here,” Romulus coach Nate Oats said. “So I’m happy we got here this year, but it’s not real satisfying anymore to get here. … I’m a little bit tired of getting here and not getting it done.”
Click for box score or to watch the game and press conferences at MHSAA.tv.
PHOTO: Rockford center Ivy Johnson (44) blocks the path of Romulus senior Aveon Simmons (5) during Friday's Semifinal. (Photo courtesy of Terry McNamara Photography.)
Mr. Basketball Drills Mr. Basketball-Level Shot To Keep East Lansing Repeat Drive Alive
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – The only surprise would've been if it hadn't been East Lansing's KJ Torbert lining up the final shot.
The Trojans' senior star added another thrilling chapter to a storybook season when he nailed a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to give East Lansing a wild 55-52 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in Friday's packed Division 1 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.
After the Warriors' Jordan McDaniel converted a clutch three-point play with 15.8 seconds left to tie the game 52-52, the Trojans took a timeout to devise a strategy that certainly revolved around getting the ball into the hands of Torbert, named the state's Mr. Basketball Award winner earlier this week after averaging 25 points per game and accepting a scholarship from Bowling Green.
"What do you think?" East Lansing coach Ray Mitchell said when asked who would be tasked with attempting the last shot.
Torbert's game-winner kept East Lansing's hopes of successfully defending its state title alive. The Trojans (27-1), who won their 10th straight game, will play Rockford in Saturday's 12:15 p.m. Final.
Torbert, who finished with 23 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, said he saw an open spot on the floor about 25 feet from the basket and took advantage of getting off a quality shot.
"It's the kinda stuff you dream about, hitting a 3-pointer to win a game," he said. "It's an exciting feeling; I can't stop smiling. It's exciting to hit a shot like that on the big stage."
Trojans teammate Kingston Thomas said it's no surprise to him who was pegged with taking the shot – or the final result.
"He's a great teammate who's been doing that all year," Thomas said. "I have 100-percent confidence in him in taking that shot. I knew he'd make it."
In the midst of a fourth-straight one-loss season, East Lansing led 23-19 at the half, but the Warriors, behind a sensational effort from McDaniel, rallied to lead 45-43 as late as 3:56 left in the game. Torbert's layup with three minutes left snapped a 45-45 tie, and the Trojans never trailed again.
McDaniel scored 12 of his 31 points during a torrid five-minute stretch late in the third quarter and the first three minutes of the fourth. His layup and free throw tied the game 52-52 with 15.8 seconds left.
Mitchell said there were actually any number of other players capable of attempting a last shot. And all were needed at some point in the game, he said.
"We've got capable shooters; we need everyone to step up, and all of them will step up," he said. "They've all had their moments. We've got guys who can knock down shots and make the right play. We're capable of that, and I hope we do it tomorrow. Passing and knocking down shots – that's how it's supposed to work."
East Lansing's Tyree Anthony said there's little doubt that the attempt at winning a repeat Division 1 title has been tougher than winning a year ago.
"We get everyone's best shot, everyone comes after us," he said. "We prepare for that."
Brother Rice coach Rick Palmer, whose team was playing in its first Semifinal in 14 years, said hats off to Torbert, who hit 8 of 18 shots, for coming up huge.
"We guarded the whole game," he said. "We just didn't make one more stop. He's a great player who made a great shot."
PHOTOS (Top) East Lansing’s KJ Torbert pulls up for the game-winning shot during the final seconds of his team’s Semifinal victory Friday. (Middle) Brother Rice’s Jordan McDaniel (1) makes his move to the basket. (Top photo by John Castine; middle photo by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)