MUSKEGON TWP. – The first season of the JR Wallace coaching era at Reeths-Puffer was all about transition, from the success of the program in recent years to what the Rockets hope will be an exciting future.
But for Wallace, it will always be a memorable year, because it launched his coaching career at the school where he played and excelled back in the 1990s.
His first season came to an end on Monday with a 65-47 loss to Greenville in Division 1 district tournament play at R-P’s Dan Beckeman Arena.
The Rockets ended the season with an overall record of 6-17 while going 4-6 in O-K Green conference play.
Greenville, which is having a great season at 22-1, now advances to play Muskegon in the semifinal round on Wednesday night at R-P.
R-P's Brayden Mitchelson gets off a shot in his final varsity game. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Wallace knew coming in that his first-year squad would have challenges, and he’ said he's not disappointed with the outcome of the season.
“I think overall it’s been an extremely successful year,” the coach said. “In terms of the guys buying in, it’s been really good.”
Wallace made sure to credit the five seniors who played their last basketball game for R-P on Monday, and helped pave the path toward the future.
“We’re trying to make sure to celebrate the seniors,” Wallace said. “That’s the first class for me as a coach. They’re a group of great kids.”
One of those seniors, Brayden Mitchelson, had another big production night in his final game, totaling a team-high 19 points with five rebounds and three steals.
R-P's Marvin Moore dribbles past a defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Afterward Mitchelson said he was grateful to play for a season under Coach Wallace.
“It was really nice to have coach,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than what he brought to us. It was really impactful for all of us, to learn life lessons outside of the court and basketball, as well.”
The Rockets were very much in the game in the first half.. Mitchelson tossed in seven points in the first quarter and R-P was down six, 17-11, at the first buzzer.
With 1:36 left In the second quarter, it looked like Greenville might pull away, taking a 28-19 lead. But the Rockets scored the last four points of the quarter and kept the margin within five, 28-23, at halftime.
Senior Elliot Schneider led the Rockets with five points in the second quarter.
R-P's Drew Brooks fights to get to the basket. Photo/Jeremy Clark
"A couple of shots just rimmed out,” Wallace said about the first half. “If just a couple more had gone down, it’s a different game, and we could have been tied or had the lead."
Reeths-Puffer struggled to rebound in the third quarter, allowing Greenville to snag six offensive boards and score seven second-chance points.
“That was it,” Wallace said about the struggle to rebound. “We had to win the rebound war. They can’t have multiple possessions.”
Grenville ended up with a 17-10 edge in the third quarter and led 45-33 headed into the fourth.
The Rockets were unable to pull within single digits in the final eight minutes. They were outscored 20-14 as their season drew to an end.
Marvin Moore finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for R-P. Schneider finished with eight points, three rebounds and two steals.
Moore drives toward the rim. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Wallace also credited Kamarion Davis and Kristian Brown for their play.
Looking ahead, Wallace is thinking long-term about strengthening the R-P basketball program from the ground up.
“I want to put together the youth program,” Wallace said. “I want to make a community of basketball. I look forward to doing that with my own eight-year-old and three-year-old boys. I’m excited about getting a program the community can benefit from, and that’s not just with my varsity group, but planting some seeds with the younger generation.”
Mitchelson, who comes from a long line of Reeths-Puffer basketball players, said he believes the program’s future will be bright.
“I’ve always played for Puffer my whole life,” he said. “I’ve always been a Rocket and I’ve always played hard. I hope the best for this program, and I know coach will do good things with it.”