MUSKEGON TWP. — As many basketball teams have learned this season (and a lot of prior seasons), the Muskegon Big Reds are really tough to play against.
Reeths-Puffer hung tough for a while against the Big Reds in their first matchup in January, but got off to a slow start in Friday's rematch and never recovered.
The result as an 84-53 loss for the Rockets in their final game of the regular season.
R-P's Brayden Mitchelson shoots a one-handed jumper. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“That’s one of the top teams in the state,” R-P head coach JR Wallace said of the Big Reds. “(Muskegon Coach Keith Guy) always has his team ready to go. We can take some solace in the fact that they’re in our conference, they’re our conference champs. We get a chance to potentially play them again, next Wednesday.”
While the game didn’t go as hoped, there was still plenty for the Rockets to celebrate on Friday, which was Senior Night.
Five Rocket seniors — Brayden Mitchelson, Drew Brooks, Elliot Schneider, Kamarion Davis and Riontae Robinson — played their last regular season home game.
“Those are the guys that stuck with it,” Wallace said. “Ultimately it’s just a testament to these guys and staying true to it. To me, that’s what high school athletics are about. Make sure that you celebrate your seniors, make sure you celebrate and reward the guys that are showing up to practice every day.”
R-P's Elliot Schneider puts up a back-door layup. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Reeths-Puffer wrapped up the regular season with a 6-16 record, including a 4-6 mark in the O-K Green conference. Muskegon improved to 19-2 and 10-0.
The Rockets will host a Division 1 district tournament next week, with several highly-ranked teams coming to Dan Beckeman Arena.
R-P will face Greenville (21-1) in the first round on Monday night. The winner will then face Muskegon (20-2, ranked No. 8 in the state) in the semifinals, and Rockford (19-2, No. 2) potentially awaits the survivor of the bracket in Friday's championship game.
Despite having so many standout teams in the district, Wallace said the tournament represents an opportunity for the Rockets. 
R-P's Marvin Moore dribbles past a Big Red. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“There’s nobody in the state of Michigan that has a better opportunity than we do,” he said. “We’re the only team in the state that could get to knock out three top 15 teams in the state. That’s beautiful. When you’re a competitor like myself, you want that. Why not? Why not us?
“We’re at home, let’s go out and have some fun, do the things we need to do to give ourselves an opportunity to be that team.”
Muskegon got off to a hot start on Friday, grabbing a 15-2 lead after six minutes. The Rockets trimmed the lead to 19-8 by the end of the first quarter
Both offenses picked up the pace in the second quarter. The Big Reds led by as many as 20 points, but a 9-2 R-P run to close the half made the score 42-29 at the break. Marvin Moore scored 10 of R-P’s 21 points in the second, giving him a team-best 14 in the first half. 
R-P's Drew Brooks tries to get a shot off over two defenders. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Muskegon dominated the third quarter with a 24-12 advantage and led 64-41 heading to the fourth.
The Big Reds continued to grow the lead down the stretch, outscoring R-P 20-12 in the final frame. Mitchelson scored 10 points in the fourth for the Rockets.
Moore led Reeths-Puffer with 18 points, followed by Mitchelson with 14 points and five rebounds.