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A win is a win. 

That is what Montcalm Community College Centurions head coach Zach Ingles is taking from his team’s 58-54 home win against the Kirtland Community College Firebirds, Saturday, Jan. 24 … and that’s it. 

“Let’s never talk about this game again,” he said. “I’m not going to watch film. I’m not going to look at stats. It’s a long season. We’ve been efficient all year, just not today.” 

In a game that went back and forth in the second half with both teams shooting poorly (30% for MCC, 32.1% for KCC), it was a four-point play by sophomore Dawson Dunn (Big Rapids, Mich.) that helped the Centurions (3-1 MCCAA North, 10-8 overall) build a big enough cushion to clinch the game. 

With MCC up 42-38 with 10:12 to go in the game, both teams went on an offensive drought over the next four-and-a-half minutes until freshman James Browning (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was fouled after rebounding a shot, sinking one of two free throws. The Firebirds (2-2 MCCAA North, 3-13 overall), however, were still within striking distance as MCC held only a five-point lead with 6:42 left in the game. 

One minute later, Dunn squared up to the three-point line, took a shot, was fouled and sunk the shot for a chance at a four-point play, which he completed with a made free throw, giving the Centurions a 46-38 lead. That, Ingles said, was a key moment in a game where offense was scarce. 

“When the offenses struggled on both sides of the floor, a four-point play seemed monumental. It was a big play for us,” Ingles said. 

Kirtland didn’t quit, however, and cut Montcalm’s lead to six after Chase Kampf hit a three-pointer with 2:29 to go. On MCC’s ensuing possession, the Centurions almost coughed up a turnover. However, Dunn scooped up the loose ball from the floor and drove to the basket for a dunk, giving MCC a 54-46 lead with 2:12 to go. 

From there, MCC attempted to bleed the clock. However, with 11 seconds to go, KCC’s KJ Hurt hit a three-point shot to cut MCC’s lead to 57-52. But it was too little too late for a Firebirds’ comeback, as they only managed to score once more right at the buzzer. 

Dunn scored all 11 of his points in the second half, shooting 2-for-4 from the three-point line in that half. Freshman Jahmere Evans (Indianapolis, Ind.) matched Dunn, scoring 11 points off the bench. Browning had nine points and led the team with eight rebounds. 

Despite their struggles finding baskets, the Centurions did well defensively, forcing 20 turnovers and outscoring Kirtland in points off turnovers, 17-8. MCC also had four blocks in the game, three coming from sophomore Josiah DeMeester (Grandville, Mich.), and one from sophomore Makur Reclow (Louisville, Ky.). 

Ingles was happy with his team’s defense, but it could not overcome the glaring problems on offense, which almost resulted in loss. 

“We were really good defensively. We just didn’t make shots,” he said. “It’s one of those games you chalk it up as just find a way to win. We had to find a way when we didn’t have our best stuff. But the only positive here tonight was that we found a way to win. It would’ve been a real problem had the outcome been reversed. Missing shots and sometimes it snowballs.” 

In the first half, it was all Centurions, as they took a 10-4 lead after Evans hit a three-pointer with 11:16 to go. He increased the lead to 15-4 two minutes later with another three-point shot.  

The Firebirds went on a 9-2 run to get back into the game. KCC cut it to only a three-point MCC lead when Hurt drove to the basket for a layup with 2:05 to go in the first half and then cut it down to two after a Louie Jackson three-point shot, making it 27-25 in MCC’s favor, which was the score at halftime. 

UP NEXT: The Centurions have a quick turnaround with its schedule, hosting Muskegon Community College tonight at 7:30 p.m., which is a makeup game from Jan. 21, which was rescheduled owing to inclement weather.  

Muskegon, 3-1 in the North conference and 9-8 overall, and MCC are jostling for positions in the upper tier of the conference, with Bay College at 4-1 and Mid Michigan leading the rest with a 4-0 record, so far. 

“We’ve already prepped for Muskegon so we should be ready,” Ingles said.  

The Centurions will have little rest after that as they will host Delta College (1-4 MCCAA North, 4-12 overall) Wednesday, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.