ZEELAND — The red-hot Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team added yet another win to its long streak Friday night and moved a step closer to the O-K Green conference title in the process.
Reeths-Puffer went on the road and shook off a slow start to top a very good Zeeland West team 45-34. The win makes 12 in a row for the Rockets, who haven’t lost since their first conference game on Jan. 6.
The win didn’t come as easily as the 11-point margin of victory might suggest. Reeths-Puffer led for only a total of 45 seconds in the first three quarters.
But the Rockets, fueled by strong defense and free-throw shooting, outscored the Dux 27-9 over the last 10 minutes of the game, including 18-7 in the fourth quarter.
“I think they were putting a little too much pressure on themselves,” Reeths-Puffer head coach Rodney Walker said of the slow start. “In the second half I think we started running more of our offense and were able to collectively get together and do some things differently.”
R-P's Sophia Hekkema, who had eight free throws and four steals in the fourth quarter. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Reeths-Puffer was 12-for-16 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, led by an 8-for-10 performance from Sophia Hekkema. The Rockets also forced eight Zeeland West turnovers in the final quarter.
“Free throws and defense in the second half were the keys,” Coach Walker said. “We weren’t shooting the ball from the free throw line well at all throughout the season. We’ve been making it a focus at practice and the girls really did a good job shooting free throws tonight.
“I thought we did a great job of turning them over and getting some easy layups to give us a lead.”
In addition to clutch shooting at the line in the fourth, Hekkema wreaked havoc on defense. The senior had four steals in the final quarter.
“It was super important,” Hekkema said about locking down on defense. “We knew we were going to have to force them into making bad decisions. That happened, and it turned out in our favor.”
R-P's Ariel Walker dribbles past a defender. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Reeths-Puffer is now on the brink of clinching the O-K Green conference championship. The Rockets are 15-5 on the year and 11-1 in conference play, with two games to play.
One win next week gives R-P a share of the title, while two wins or a win and a Muskegon loss clinches it outright. After sharing the title with Mona Shores last year, Reeths-Puffer is hoping to have it all to itself this season.
The Rockets will visit Mona Shores on Tuesday.
“That would be huge, to get that by ourselves and prove that we can do that, that we’re the best," Hekkema said.
“The girls have said they don’t want to share this year, they want it outright,” Coach Walker said. “I’m hoping they really play like that Tuesday against Shores, then take care of business Friday against Holland.”
R-P's Brooklynn Tornes drives in for a layup. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Zeeland West led 11-8 after one quarter, including a 7-0 run at one point. Ariel Walker led R-P with five points in the first, including a three-pointer to stop the Dux’ run.
The Dux extended their lead in a low-scoring second quarter and had a 17-12 edge at halftime.
Reeths-Puffer scored the first six points of the second half to take a brief 18-17 lead, but Zeeland West responded with an 8-0 run to pull in front 25-18. Reeths-Puffer closed the third on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 27-27 heading to the fourth. Brooklynn Tornes had eight points for R-P in the third.
The Rockets dominated the final quarter 18-7, getting a dozen points at the line. Hekkema’s 10 points in the quarter led the way.
Hekkema finished with 15 points to lead R-P, followed by Walker and Tornes with 13 apiece.
