PARK TWP. — It’s been clear since he debuted as a freshman that Jaxson Whitaker would have a special basketball career in a Reeths-Puffer uniform.
The senior reached a significant milestone in that special career on Tuesday night, surpassing 1,000 career points in R-P’s 78-71 win at West Ottawa.
“This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was watching basketball at the high school level,” Whitaker said about reaching the milestone. “I’m just thankful for my coaches and my teammates that have been here to support me through all this. I wouldn’t have been able to get it without them.”
Photo and design/Joe Lane
Whitaker needed just three points on Friday to reach the milestone. His 1,000th point came on a layup with 7:30 to play in the second quarter. R-P Coach Nate Aardema then called a time out, the West Ottawa staff announced the achievement and Rocket fans cheered and held up signs to celebrate.
“I kind of just let it come to me,” Whitaker said. “I know my teammates are going to knock down shots and I was just waiting for my opportunity to get a bucket.
“I’ve got some of my best buddies here tonight who made some signs without telling me and are just here to support me. I’ve got my family here, all the other players’ parents that are cheering for me, too. It was a nice night to do it.”
Aardema said the achievement is reflective of a career of hard work for the senior standout.
R-P's Braydon Mitchelson (24) battles for a rebound. Photo/Joe Lane
“He’s special,” Aardema said. “The first questions college coaches ask are: Is he a good person? Is he a good student? What’s his work ethic? Jaxson is incredible in every area.
“You can’t be great at anything without being good at everything. Jaxson is good at everything. You don’t get 1,000 points without some ability, but I couldn’t even imagine totaling the hours he’s committed to this game and being great.”
Aardema thanked the staff at West Ottawa for their willingness to help celebrate Whitaker’s milestone.
“I appreciate West Ottawa being willing to celebrate him,” he said. “I texted their coach this morning and said, ‘Is it all right if we call a time out and I give the PA announcer something to read?’ They were gracious enough to allow that.”
Mitchelson takes a jump shot. Photo/Joe Lane
Reeths-Puffer got out to a big lead early on before West Ottawa stormed back to eventually take the lead in the second half.
The Rockets battled through the Panther rally, and foul trouble for standout Travis Ambrose, to grind out a win, buoyed by a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“West Ottawa made a bunch of shots tonight,” Aardema said. “I thought we got tired and didn’t contest them as well as we would have liked. We had some foul trouble which affected our defense, as well. But finding a way, that’s huge, that shows some grit for our guys.”
Reeths-Puffer started out hot, using a 16-1 run to lead 18-6 after the first quarter. Ambrose scored nine in the opening frame to lead the way.
R-P's Marvin Moore tries to tip a shot in over a West Ottawa defender. Photo/Joe Lane
R-P extended the lead to 22-8 early in the second, but a 16-4 run by West Ottawa closed the gap to 26-24. Reeths-Puffer led 31-26 at halftime, led by Ambrose with 13 points in the first half and Marvin Moore with nine.
The teams went back and forth in the third quarter, which included nine lead changes. Ambrose picked up his fourth foul with 4:26 to play in the third and had to sit until part of the way through the fourth. West Ottawa took a 49-47 lead into the final quarter.
Ambrose returned with 6:28 left in the game with West Ottawa leading 53-51. After the Panthers extended the lead to 56-52, Reeths-Puffer rattled off a 15-0 run in the span of three minutes to lead 67-56 with three minutes to play.
R-P's Travis Ambrose drives toward the basket. Photo/Joe Lane
A three from Moore stretched the lead to 70-58 with 2:10 to play and R-P made enough free throws down to stretch to seal the win.
Moore led Reeths-Puffer with 24 points, followed by Ambrose with 22. Whitaker finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Brayden Mitchelson had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Rockets.
Reeths-Puffer, now 3-0 on the season, will host Hudsonville on Friday night.
