ZEELAND — The Reeths-Puffer basketball team survived a slow start and a late rally by Zeeland West to keep its winning streak intact on Friday night.
The Rockets held on for a 53-51 win as the Dux missed a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds.
Reeths-Puffer has now won nine straight games and is 12-1 on the season.
“I saw a lot of resilience, I saw a lot of mental and physical toughness, too,” said R-P coach Nate Aardema, whose team also overcame an early double-digit deficit. “I’m really proud of these guys for finding a way to find success and finish against a really good Zeeland West team.”
Reeths-Puffer led by nine points with 5:20 to play, but a 10-2 run by the Dux made the score 47-44 with 2:50 left. The teams traded baskets before a pair of Marvin Moore free throws made the score 53-48 with 24 seconds left.
A three pointer by Zeeland West followed by an R-P turnover on the inbound gave the Dux the ball down when they trailed 53-51 with 8.6 seconds remaining.
Zeeland West’s final shot at the buzzer rolled off the rim and R-P hung on for the two-point win.
“We stayed calm, we took a deep breath, we stayed poised in the moments we needed to,” Rocket senior Travis Ambrose said of the final defensive stop. “That’s a big stop for us. This is a big win for us on the road at Zeeland West, who’s obviously a good team.”
It was a balanced offensive attack for R-P on Friday, with all five starters scoring between eight and 15 points.
While Ambrose and Jaxson Whitaker were the two scoring leaders, Marvin Moore, Brayden Mitchelson and Antrel Jones combined to score 10 of the team’s 13 points in the fourth quarter.
“Brayden, Antrel and Marvin all had some big moments,” Aardema said. “I think we were up maybe five, I’m yelling ‘slow down, slow down,’ and Marvin drives to the lane and finishes.
“We were trying to run a little clock and I said layups only. Brayden saw an opportunity and drove in and got a layup. Antrel made some great plays. it was a really gutsy performance by Antrel. He was throwing up immediately after the game, he’s been sick the last few days.”
Friday’s win sets up a major O-K Green showdown with rival Muskegon on Tuesday. The Rockets and Big Reds are tied atop the conference standings, both at 6-0 after wins on Friday.
“It’s a big game - we’re both undefeated in the league,” Aardema said. “But I want our guys to understand that if we just play the way we play, there’s no reason we can’t be successful in any game.
“It’s a big one, it’ll be competitive. But ultimately, it’s just about us playing the way we’re capable and trying to execute.”
Zeeland West started the game with a 13-3 run and led 14-7 after the opening quarter Whitaker led the Rockets with six points in the first frame.
Reeths-Puffer finished the second quarter with a run of their own, 9-0 over the final two minutes, to tie the game 24-24 at halftime. Ambrose scored 11 points in the second quarter to lead the comeback.
Another 9-0 run early in the third gave the Rockets the lead for good. A triple by Jones at the third quarter buzzer put R-P up 40-32 heading to the final period.
Zeeland West outscored R-P 19-13 in the final frame, but the comeback attempt fell a basket short.
Ambrose led R-P with 15 points and eight rebounds. Whitaker scored 11 points and Moore had double figures with 10. Mitchelson chipped in nine points and seven rebounds and Jones scored eight and had six rebounds.
