Feb. 19, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College hosted Glen Oaks Community College in a pivotal basketball doubleheader on Wednesday, with the women's team securing a postseason berth and the men's team suffering a heartbreaking last-second defeat.

Women's Team Clinches Playoff Spot with 56-40 Victory

Head coach David Glazier's Raiders (9-11, 7-5) extended their postseason streak to ten consecutive years with a dominant performance against the Vikings (7-18, 3-9). GRCC took control early, leading 22-3 after the first quarter and 34-10 at halftime. The lead ballooned to 29 points in the third quarter before Glen Oaks mounted a 15-0 run to cut the deficit to 46-33 with 4:46 remaining. However, the Raiders held firm to close out the game despite being outscored 22-10 in the fourth quarter.

Key Performances:

• Tia Richard led all scorers with 20 points (8-17 FG), adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a career-high 6 steals.
• Ava Schultz contributed 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block.
• Averi Peot had 5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and a career-high 3 blocks.
• Tianna Daye added 11 points, while La'Anna Griffin led the team with 8 rebounds.

The Raiders' defense was stellar, recording 17 steals and 5 blocks, compared to just 5 steals and no blocks for Glen Oaks.

Men's Team Falls in Final Seconds, 85-84

The Raiders (18-9, 5-7) battled Glen Oaks (15-11, 8-4) in a tightly contested matchup but ultimately fell on a last-second basket. The Raiders started strong with a 19-10 lead, but a scoring drought allowed Glen Oaks to surge ahead, taking a 48-39 halftime advantage. GRCC clawed its way back in the second half, tying the game at 76 with 2:25 left after a layup by Bashir Neely.

In the final minute, GRCC trailed 83-80 before Marshaun Flakes' layup and a clutch steal led to a go-ahead dunk by Tyran Thomas with 13 seconds remaining. Glen Oaks missed a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left, but a jump ball gave them possession, leading to a game-winning layup with just 0.3 seconds on the clock.

Key Performances:

• Thomas recorded his second straight double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 5 assists.
• Flakes had a game-high 21 points, along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Zeekeal Jackson added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

GRCC had a season-low seven turnovers but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 14% (4-for-28).

Glen Oaks' bench outscored GRCC's 35-10.

Playoff Picture and Upcoming Games

Both teams have two conference games remaining, starting with a road matchup against Kalamazoo Valley Community College on February 22. The women's game tips off at 1 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3 p.m.

Women's Postseason Outlook:

The Raiders sit in fourth place in the conference and have a chance to move up to third, which would secure a home game in the first round of the district tournament. A fourth or fifth-place finish would result in a road game to start the playoffs.

Men's Postseason Outlook:

Currently in fifth place, the Raiders can clinch a postseason berth with a win at KVCC and a Kellogg CC loss to Lansing.

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