The Reeths-Puffer boys basketball team staged a pretty impressive fourth quarter comeback on Saturday, but came up short in a 52-46 loss to Niles in a special weekend game at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High school.
The loss ended R-P's two-game winning streak.
The Rockets had a slow first half, scoring nine points in the first quarter, only four in the second, and trailing 23-13 at halftime.
Drew Brooks scored four points for the Rockets in the first quarter while Marvin Moore and Kristian Brown each had one basket in the second.
The Rockets were outscored 13-11 in the third quarter, which left them with a 36-24 deficit heading into the fourth.
Marvin Moore, who led R-P with 22 points.
Moore had seven points in the third quarter.
R-P's offense came to life in the final eight minutes, outscoring Niles 22-16. Moore had 10 points in the quarter, including a pair of triples, while Brayden Mitchelson, Brooks and Brown each had one three-pointer.
It wasn't quite enough to close the gap, however. Niles held on with the help of six free throws in the fourth quarter.
“Overall, our effort was good,” said R-P head coach JR Wallace about his team’s performance. “We just dug ourselves too big of a hole to climb out of. I’m pleased with our fight and focus in the second half.”
Moore led the Rockets with 22 points, two rebounds and one steal while Brown added seven points, six rebounds and one steal.
Elliot Schneider also had a good game, snagging nine rebounds to go with five points and three assists. Brooks totaled seven points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Rockets, now 5-11 overall on the season, will host Holland West Ottawa on Tuesday in another non-conference matchup.