MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – It may be the holiday break from classes, but the Reeths-Puffer boys basketball team had a big test on Wednesday.
The Rockets were coming off a loss in their last game – their first defeat of the season – and had to return from a long layoff to host undefeated Coopersville in the Muskegon Area Hall of Fame Holiday Classic at Reeths-Puffer High School.
The Rockets took the test, and despite a late flurry of trouble, managed to pass with a 66-61 victory in front of a big crowd in their own gym.
“They were going to battle till the end,” said Reeths-Puffer head coach Nate Aardema about Coopersville, which came into the matchup with a 6-0 record. “They have a good team and they play hard. We got a little fatigued (near the end) and I think we got super tentative and got out of attacking.”
R-P's Travis Ambrose pulls up for a jumper. Photo/Tyler Lirones
If anyone left after three quarters of play, they likely assumed that the Rockets cruised to victory after holding a 56-42 lead with just eight minutes remaining.
But that lead was cut to just 62-61 with 44 seconds left on the clock.
The Rockets collected two crucial points when senior Travis Ambrose stepped up to the line with 12 seconds remaining and made two free throws to extend the lead to 64-61.
Coopersville turned the ball over on its next possession and R-P senior Antrel Jones knocked down two more free throws with three seconds remaining to ice the victory.
R-P's Jaxson Whitaker takes to the air for a layup. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“Really we tried to survive instead of score,” Aardema said about the hard-fought victory. “That hurt us. But Jaxson (Whitaker) and Travis (Ambrose) combined for 47 of our 66 points. Seniors and four-year players help, believe it or not. It’s nice to be able to lean on them.”
Ambrose starred in the game, totaling 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.
“We motivate and push each other,” Ambrose said. “We’re never going to give up. It’s nice knowing that we can beat them and handle a zone like that.”
Whitaker finished with 21 points on the night while Coopersville was led by Porter Kretschman with 18 points and Eli Spencer with 17.
R-P' s Elliot Schneider takes a shot. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rockets jumped out to an 18-13 lead after the opening quarter behind nine points from sophomore Marvin Moore.
“He’s a really talented kid,” Aardema said about Moore. “At times he looks fantastic. He benefits from how teams defend us. Travis and Jaxson get a lot of attention so he can be kind of forgotten about and he’s talented enough to take advantage. We’re thankful for that.”
Reeths-Puffer extended the lead to 29-21 at halftime behind seven second-quarter points from Ambrose.
R-P had its strongest offensive quarter in the third, outscoring the Broncos 27-21 to extend the lead to 56-42 heading in the fourth. Whitaker had 10 points in the third quarter while Ambrose totaled nine.
R-P's Marvin Moore drives toward the basket. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rockets were held to just 10 points over the final eight minutes but picked up the win behind Ambrose and Whitaker, who each had four points in the quarter.
Reeths-Puffer, now 5-1 on the season, will visit Jenison in another non-conference game on Jan. 2.
