Kentwood High girls basketball falls to Tahoma Bears

By Tyler Rubenstein

For the Reporter

Entering the matchup with a four-game losing streak, Kentwood High School girls basketball team struggles persisted on Jan. 17 as the Conquerors fell 55-45 to the Tahoma Bears.

However, even amidst their losses, there were several positives to pick out from their perpetual hustle and heart.

“The past four games have not gone our way, but just compared to the start of the season, we’ve really started to come together and play how we should be playing,” Kentwood Coach Jordan Nero said. “That’s all just grit and them competing out there.”

The game began abruptly at Kentwood as Tahoma rocketed out to a 15-2 lead by the time only 1 minute, 52 seconds remained in the first quarter. Kentwood battled back on top of massive 3-pointers from sophomore Tyanna Sims, which eventually drew it to an 18-15 deficit with 5 minutes left in the second quarter.

“She’s such a quick guard that it’s so easy for her to get past these bigger and taller people and get shots, which really helps take the pressure off of me,” senior Jessica Ajayi said.

Even with Sims’ efforts, Tahoma kept pulling away. After a Tahoma 3-pointer extended the lead to 21-15 with 3:50 left in the second quarter, Kentwood began leaning on Ajayi, a University of San Diego commit. Kentwood found Ajayi for a ‘two…and one’ on an inbound pass, and then she heated up and fired in a 3-pointer to tie the game at 21-21.

“She really is like our rock, our stability, a source of comfort,” junior Alena Ton said. “I feel like whenever I see her, I know that she’s gonna have our back every time.”

In fact, Ajayi’s efforts in leading a full comeback amped up the atmosphere in the gymnasium, and a slight tussle between the two teams over a loose ball ensued.

“Whatever is happening, you got to keep competing, keep wanting it, especially more than the other team,” Nero said. “They never stop swinging.”

The third quarter continued the same trend of Tahoma pulling away and Kentwood leaning on Ajayi to pull back within touching distance. Nero was not surprised by his team’s reliance on her.

“There’s a reason she was player of the year last year,” Nero said. “Even though she had a rough go tonight, she can do so many things that others can’t and it lets her do damage to teams.”

The subject of much praise from her teammates and coach, Ajayi herself was complimentary of her team’s ability to stick it out and keep tough games like this competitive.

“I think that it’s so important that I have confidence, knowing my team trusts ourselves, knowing we can come back in the game, we can play defense, get good energy,” Ajayi said.

Kentwood’s several comebacks ultimately fell short when Tahoma, which is 9-0 in the NPSL and 13-3 overall, hit three game-breaking 3-pointers to make it 48-36 in the fourth quarter with 5:50 left.

Even with the losses stacking up, the Kentwood players aren’t fazed.

“At the end of the day, losses are losses, but it’s how we bounce back into the next games,” Ajayi said. “I feel like we’re building on top of each game, and we’ll get them next time.”

This fifth consecutive loss dropped Kentwood to 3-10 overall and 2-7 in the NPSL, putting them in sixth place and only within touching distance of a postseason – a postseason that Nero is optimistic about.

“Only five spots in the playoffs, and we’re sixth – but if they mess up and let us in there, we are going to be one tough matchup for some team,” Nero said.

Tyler Rubensten is an intern for Sound Publishing.

Nissiah Hills reaches for a pass against Tahoma. BY ROBBY MULLIKIN