SPRING LAKE – Sophia Hekkema is hard to contain on a basketball court, even when she hasn’t been feeling well.
Hekkema, Reeths-Puffer’s leading scorer who practiced sparingly this week due to illness, came off the bench on Friday and scored 13 points to lead the Rockets to an impressive 46-36 road victory over Spring Lake.
The Rockets improved to 1-1 on the season while the Lakers fell to 1-1.
“I wasn’t at practice much this week, but I was just trying to be aggressive,” Hekkema said. "I was just comfortable, and the ball kept going in.”
R-P's Sophia Hekkema lets go of a jump shot. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“She did a great job,” R-P Coach Rodney Walker said about Hekkema coming off the bench instead of starting. “We just felt like we wanted to try a little something different. She came in and did what she was supposed to do by giving us a spark.”
Hekkema came into the game in the first quarter and instantly led the Rockets with five points, which gave Reeths-Puffer an 11-6 advantage headed into the second.
That continued in the second quarter when Hekkema scored seven points, helping the Rockets take a 25-14 halftime advantage.
R-P's Arial Walker puts up a layup. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“It was a lot of fun,” Hekkema said. “I kept getting more and more confident as shots went in, so I kept shooting.”
The Lakers outscored the Rockets 12-7 in the third quarter to cut the Reeths-Puffer lead to 32-26. Spring Lake sophomores Tessa Britt and Ellie Wrona each had four points in the third.
The Lakers cut their deficit to four points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, including the last time at 36-32 with 2:30 remaining.
But Reeths-Puffer sewed up the win by converting 8 of 10 free throws as the clock ran down while Ariel Walker also had a two-point basket.
Arial Walker leaps for a rebound. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“I feel like we’re still getting in shape,” Coach Walker about the Rockets’ defense, which held Spring Lake to eight points in three of four quarters. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re moving in a good direction. We ended the game really well. Once we get acclimated, we’re going to be a good team.”
Ariel Walker scored 12 points for the Rockets while Brooklynn Tornes added nine.
“We got about five girls (who can score consistently),” Coach Walker said. “I think we’ll really be a special team down the line once we get acclimated.”
Alexa Carter led the Lakers with 10 points.