The Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team is still working through some growing pains as the regular season winds down.
The Rockets, who play a lot of promising freshmen and sophomores, have had a roller-coaster of a season as they've battled and learned at the varsity level.
They started the season 0-5, bounced back nicely with a 5-3 record over the next eight contests, but now are working to find their game again.
They lost their seventh straight on Friday, 69-42 to Muskegon, in their final O-K Green conference matchup of the season.
R-P's Ashlyn David, who scored 15 points.
The game was close in the first quarter, with Muskegon leading 12-8 at the first buzzer.
The Big Reds had a 15-11 edge in the second quarter and went to halftime with a 27-19 lead.
The big difference came in the third quarter, when Muskegon outscored the Rockets 23-10 to take a 50-29 lead, then cruised to the win in the fourth..
R-P head coach Rodney Walker credited his players for continuing to battle, even as the game got tough in the second half.
R-P's Raquel Walker, who scored 14 points.
"I’m incredibly proud of our team," Walker said. "Our girls played with heart and determination until the final seconds, embodying the true spirit of the Rockets."
Sophomore Ashlyn David led the Rockets with 15 points and five rebounds. Freshman Raquel Walker added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, while sophomore Abrianna Do had four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
The Rockets are now 5-15 overall and finished 3-7 in the conference standings. Muskegon improved to 8-11 and 5-5.
R-P will wrap up its regular season with a road game at Ludington on Tuesday, then will open district tournament play the following week.