BLOG 9: Ferris makes big strides between exhibition contests

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State’s Justin Keenan glides in for a dunk during the Bulldogs’ exhibition contest on Tuesday at home against Calvin College (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Chemistry takes time and hard work to develop and nurture. That’s a lesson the Ferris State men’s basketball team has quickly realized.

This ongoing chemistry experiment is beginning to take form the Bulldogs as proven by the dramatic improvement since Ferris’ first exhibition game, Oct. 30 against Cornerstone (a hard-fought 74-73 win), compared to its second, Tuesday evening against long-time non-conference rival Calvin, in a 80-66 win. The difference, in many ways, was like night and day as the Bulldogs looked far closer to the smooth product head coach Bill Sall envisions his team becoming this winter.

Two new faces to the starting lineup this season, a pair of transfers in power forward Verdell Billingsley and sharpshooting wing player Austin Randel, have been helped to enhance the Bulldogs’ lineup. Billingsley gives the team another capable body in the paint to complement sophomore center Justin Keenan. From outside, Randel’s long-range shooting will help spread defenses out throughout this upcoming season.

Darien Gay, a sophomore, and Dontae Molden, a freshman, will only become stronger and more comfortable running the show from the point guard spot as the season progresses. The Bulldogs remain a fairly young team at one of the most critical positions on the hardwood. The talent is there for Ferris, at this critical position, and mainly needs time to develop.

Ferris’ more diversified offense – shooting with consistency on the perimeter, running the floor hard and scoring in the paint – should pay dividends this winter for Sall’s squad.

Against Calvin, Keenan finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Josh Young had 13 points and three rebounds and Billingsley tallied 10 points and four rebounds.

The Bulldogs head south for a long road trip to Highland Heights, Ky., to open the season against Division II national power Northern Kentucky Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com