MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP - Anyone who wrote the Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team out of the O-K Green conference championship race was definitely jumping to conclusions.
Sure, the Rockets were 3-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play on Jan. 6, when they lost to Muskegon, but as it turns out, they were just warming up.
Reeths-Puffer is now clearly on a roll following its exciting 52-45 victory over Zeeland West on Friday night on its home court.
The game was close through three quarters before R-P took control with an 18-13 advantage in the fourth, led by eight points from Ariel Walker.
The Rockets have now won four straight games – all in the conference – and are tied with Mona Shores for second place at 4-1.
R-P's Brooklynn Tornes (12) drives toward the basket. Photo/Joe Lane
“This was a huge conference win,” said R-P Coach Rodney Walker, whose team is now 7-5 overall. “I knew this was going to be a big game for us, and I knew we had a tough challenge ahead, but our girls were prepared and they really executed the game plan. I thought they did a great job of executing down the stretch.”
The Rockets trailed Zeeland West 15-12 after one quarter. Sophia Hekkema scored six points for Puffer in the first while Megan Barmes hit a three-pointer and Brooklynn Tornes also had three points.
Reeths-Puffer going in the second quarter, grabbing a 24-23 halftime lead with a 12-8 advantage. Walker had five points in the second for R-P while Billie Tryska drained a triple.
The game remained very tight in the third quarter, with both teams scoring nine points and R-P leading 33-32 headed into the fourth.
The Rockets took control down the stretch, getting eight points – including two triples – from Walker, three free throws from Tryska, three points from Hekkema, and two points apiece from Tornes and Irelyn Niklasch.
R-P's Ariel Walker moves the ball up the court. Photo/Joe Lane
They nailed down the win by converting 6 of 10 free throws in the fourth.
Walker finished with 18 points, Hekkema totaled 11, Tornes had nine and Tryska scored eight. Hekkema snagged eight rebounds and Tornes dished off three assists.
“I would say that was probably the best game we’ve played all season,” Coach Walker said. “We had good ball movement, we had several girls scoring, we rebounded collectively, and we took care of the ball and did a good job of breaking their press.”
Now the Rockets will turn their attention to Mona Shores, the team they currently share second place with. The Rockets will host the Sailors on Tuesday night in a big conference battle to remain near the top of the standings.
R-P and Shores shared the conference championship last season.
“That’s going to be a huge one,” Coach Walker said. “That’s going to be one of our biggest tests. They do a great job over there, offensively and defensively.”
