Makai Campos led West Ottawa past Holland in a city rivalry showdown at the Dutch Dome.
HOLLAND - There is just something special about a rivalry game in The Dutch Dome.
The energy is unpredictable opposing teams are forced to absorb it to be able to use it to their advantage.
That is what West Ottawa did in a 74-49 win over Holland, enduring the Dutch's opening spurt of energy before wearing them out in the second half.
"It is a Holland city game and the energy is packed in the Dome. Everyone has fun with all of that energy," West Ottawa guard Makai Campos said. "I feel like I had to step up for my team. Today was my day and every day is someone else's day on this team."
West Ottawa improved to 4-1 behind 28 points from Campos.
"When we needed it, Makai carried us," West Ottawa coach Jared Redell said. "We have a lot of guys who can take over a game like that, but he was able to feel that this was the night where he kind of had it, and what I love about our guys is they see that and come to the bench and tell us to run more plays for Makai. That is unselfish and what helps us play good basketball."
Holland (3-2) took a 16-11 lead after 3s from Keegan Hulst and Andrew Legg. The Dutch led 18-13 after one quarter. Legg converted a three-point play to push the lead to 21-13.
All the momentum was with the Dutch.
But it didn't last long.
Makai Campos responded with a pull-up jumper and a 3-pointer to pull the Panthers within 21-18 and JT Gill scored in transition and it was quickly 21-20 midway through the second quarter. Campos put the Panthers ahead with a 3 and Tavian Garvelink and Gill added baskets and the Panthers led 27-21 and led 31-26 at halftime.
The Panthers kept the energy in the second half, starting the third quarter on a 14-2 run behind Gill who finished with 14.
Legg finished with 12 points, Josiah VanHekken had 11 and Hulst finished with nine.
"We bought into the little things and we did a really good job of that in the first quarter," Holland coach Andrew Meeuwsen said. "It is not just one guy. They started trapping more and using that pressure."
Injury update
West Ottawa sophomore center Darien Stewart sat out the game with a groin injury.
He is expected to be back for the next Panthers game.
Tavian Garvelink started at center and played well, scoring nine points and playing strong defense.
"Tavian stepped up. We haven't played a lot without Darien, so we don't have the same rim protection, but I thought Tavian gave great minutes and Solomon Wegmeyer played well, too," Redell said.
Meanwhile, Holland's Xavier Murphy sustained a shoulder injury in the first half and didn't return.
"We lost X and he does so many things like playing defense on Campos," Meeuwsen said.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Ottawa boys basketball beats Holland in the Dutch Dome
Category: General Sports
