Feb. 17, 2024, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's and women's basketball teams kept its postseason chances alive after sweeping Alpena Community College on Saturday afternoon.

There was never any doubt in the women's game who was going to be victorious. GRCC jumped in front 9-0 and never looked back winning by 28 points and scoring its second most points of the season, 70.

Sophomore guard Avery Jirous had one of the best performances of her Raider career, nearly finishing with a triple-double.  Jirous scored 14 points and added a career-high 14 rebounds and eight assists.

GRCC won the rebound battle by 30, totaling a season-high 69 including 29 on the offensive end.  

Jirous wasn't the only one who finished with a double-double.  Ava Schultz had 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.  Kaylie VanDerHulst added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Tia Richard led all scorers with 19 points, including 12 from long range.

In the later game, Alpena's men's team looked in control in the first half, leading by as many as nine points.  But in the second half, GRCC took the game back after an 18-2 run put the Raiders in front 64-53 with four minutes remaining.

Alpena didn't go down without a fight, chipping away at the deficit and even making it a two point game with 12 seconds and four seconds remaining, but each time the Raiders responded by making two clutch free throws.  GRCC held on for the 74-70 victory after Jack Agema made the final two.

Joe Francis led GRCC with 20 points on 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.  Tristan McRoberts had the team's lone double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Agema finished with 15 points.

Darrell Belcher led the team with six assists and also had 10 rebounds, six points and two blocks.

Both teams have three games remaining in conference play before potentially making it to the post season.  Currently the women's team has a 5-6 conference record and are in fourth place.  The men's team is 4-7 and sit in sixth place.  Only the top five teams advance to the post season.

CURRENT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
CURRENT MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS

  
Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.