The only thing better than beating your rival is doing it with a great comeback, and that's exactly what the Reeths-Puffer boys bowling team did on Wednesday.
The Rockets got off to a horrible start against Mona Shores, losing both baker rounds and trailing 10-0 heading into the regular games.
But R-P dominated down the stretch to grab an exciting 17-13 victory that came down to the final frame of the last game.
The Rockets won the first regular game 914-855, earning four team points. Carter Hekkema, Karsen Boeskool, Ryleigh Beebe and Liam Copenhaver each won their individual matchups, securing four more team points.
Copenhaver rolled an excellent 254 in the first regular game, which was the highest score of his varsity career.
R-P's Liam Copenhaver, who rolled a 254 game.
Mona Shores still led 11-8 after the first regular game.
The Rockets won the second regular game 815-796, earning four more points. Hekkema, Boeskool and Beebe had individual wins, putting the Rockets up 15-13..
Beebe rolled a team-high 188 in the second game.
The key to the win were the two bonus points for highest pin total in the combined regular games. If Mona Shores had won the bonus points, the match would have been tied 15-15. But the Rockets outbowled the Sailors in the final frame of the day, securing the extra points and the victory.
"I'm so proud of the way the boys fought all the way to the end," said R-P Coach Craig Alderink. "Mona Shores bowled amazing in the baker games and we got way behind, but our team didn't give up.
"We earned 17 out of the last 20 points for a total team win. Liam had a great first game and Ryleigh bowled a really nice second game. Carter and Karsen were able to win both of their head-to-head matchups, which was also crucial."
Reeths-Puffer improved to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in O-K Green conference matches. The Rockets will face Byron Center in another conference match on Monday.