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In one of its closest endings all season, the Montcalm Community College Centurions men’s basketball team secured a 66-64 win against Community Christian College (MI) to even its record to 5-5 overall, Saturday, Dec. 7. 

This was the Centurions’ third consecutive win and a revenge game against the CCC Lions (7-4 overall), who beat them, 92-77, in Dearborn Nov. 23. 

With both teams going back and forth, trading baskets and leads, the game’s outcome was seemingly coming down to the last shot. However, after MCC freshman point guard Taylen Carver (Louisville, Ky.) cut into the Lions’ defense and dropped in a layup bucket with 1:04 left in the game, giving the Centurions the lead — adding one free throw later — the Lions were unable to score before time ran out. 

“It felt really good to make it,” Carver said of his winning shot. “It felt even better to know it helped me put my team in a better position to help win the game.” 

Carver’s layup wasn’t planned, however, as he said the game plan was to get the ball to teammate Jack Ruggles (Imlay City, Mich.) but he was never open, which forced Carver to pivot. 

“I faked the handoff and drove straight to the rim and went up and under because I knew the big man was going to try to block it on the side I was,” Carver said. 

CCC tried to answer to take back the lead but Derald Blackmon’s attempted layup with 43 seconds left was blocked by MCC forward Mason Dunn (Big Rapids, Mich.) and CCC’s second-chance jump shot missed, with Dunn collecting the defensive rebound.  

The Lions then went into foul mode to stop the clock, fouling Carver, who sunk the first free throw to make it 66-64, but missed the second, which CCC rebounded, with 11 seconds left.  

CCC had one more chance to tie the game when MCC freshman forward Makur Reclow (Louisville, Ky.) fouled Blackmon with two seconds left, but Blackmon could not connect on either free throw. Dunn collected the rebound off the second miss and was immediately fouled by the Lions. He missed both free throws but the clock ran out before another shot attempt by the Lions could be made. 

“Really, it was just coming out and being aggressive and playing with a chip on our shoulders,” said Carver, who finished with a game-high 19 points, along with two assists and two rebounds. “Executing our stuff and getting out and running up and down the court with a good pace.” 

Early in the game, the Centurions managed to establish a 12-point lead, leading 26-14 with 4:22 left in the first half, however, the Lions went on an 11-2 run to pull within three with 1:46 left.  

Lions guard Daiquan Coach dropped in a three-pointer with 28 seconds left in the half to cut the Centurions’ lead to 35-34, which ended the scoring for the half. 

Freshman guard Dorian Allen (Winter Haven, Fla.) and freshman forward Brayden Clark (Carson City, Mich.) each finished with 12 points. Allen also had six assists and seven rebounds while Clark had nine rebounds. Freshman guard Caleb Clements (Greenville, Mich.) led the team with 11 rebounds, and scored seven points. 

The Lions outrebounded the Centurions, 45-42, and outscored them in second-chance points, 18-2. However, MCC outscored CCC 28-20 in the paint and shot 43.9% from the field compared to CCC’s 34.9%. 

Carver said the key to keep the Centurions’ winning ways going is getting going early and being aggressive from the start. 

“Really, just playing at our own pace and coming out and punching the teams before they can punch us and not letting off the gas,” he said. 

UP NEXT:  

Montcalm Community College will travel to Florida Dec. 13-14 to play back-to-back games. At 8 p.m., Friday, MCC will take on Pasco-Hernando State College (5-6 overall) in New Port Richey. At noon, on Saturday, the Centurions will compete against Palm Beach State College (5-6 overall), also in New Port Richey.