Byron Center stuns No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian

Byron Center junior Camden Karel had a game-high 25 points on Tuesday in a win over Grand Rapids Christian. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Byron Center stunned No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian on Tuesday night.

That might be a surprise in West Michigan basketball circles, but not to coach Joe Rodriguez and his Bulldogs, who won 49-43.

“Tonight was a gratifying moment to see it come together,” Rodriguez said. “The guys have been working for this. Hopefully it’s something that can help us the rest of the season.”

Camden Karel, a 6-foot-9 junior center, had a game-high 25 points for Byron Center.

“The difference was Cam Karel,” Rodriguez said. “He’s had back-to-back 25-point games. He played up to his expectations tonight. He worked for it. It was a special performance. He did it inside and outside. When we needed a bucket, he got it for us.”

Byron Center led 24-14 at halftime.

“It feels great that the work we all put in together is showing on the court,” said Kare, who also drained two 3-pointers. “They are a great team and we knew we had to be at the top of our game.”

Rodriguez said defense was the key.

“We lost 45-34 earlier in the year to them,” Rodriguez said. “We felt like our defense controlled the game we just couldn’t get our offense going.”

One of the keys was limiting Christian’s Jaylan Ouwinga, a 6-foot-9 senior, who had just one bucket and five points.

“I would say we had a concerted effort stopping the ball,” Rodriguez said. “Whether its Jaylan or Nate Johnson. Defensively, it wasn’t just Cam guarding Jaylan. It was Ben Heagle, too. Jaylan is such a great talent and not just one player can stop him.”

Isaac Lee had seven points and Heagle six for the Bulldogs, who improve to 6-3 in the O-K White Conference and 11-5 overall. They have won five games in a row.

Christian, the No. 1 team in Division 2, falls to 7-1 and 14-2. Northview now leads the conference. Tyler Davis led the Eagles with 11 points and Johnson had 10.