Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker became the program’s all-time leading scorer Friday night and led the Rockets to a 54-50 win over Zeeland West that gave R-P its first conference championship in nearly 40 years.
R-P earned a share of the O-K Green title with the win, tying with Muskegon. The last Rockets’ conference title was in 1985, in the old Seaway Conference.
The Rockets (19-3, 13-1 O-K Green), ranked #9 in the state in Division 1, won a close battle with the Dux on the road earlier in the season.
“It was another great game between Zeeland West and Reeths-Puffer,” Rockets’ coach Nate Aardema said. “It was close throughout the game, with neither team able to take a big lead. Marvin Moore made three huge three-pointers in the second half that helped us gain momentum.”
Whitaker, who bumped his career scoring total to 1,374 to pass program legend Mark Hughes, led the way with 22 points and seven assists. Moore added 16 points.
Tornes goes over 1,000 points
Reeths-Puffer senior Brooklynn Tornes went over 1,000 career points Tuesday night in the Rockets’ 57-49 loss to Hudsonville.
Tornes had 18 points in the game and is the program’s fourth 1,000-point scorer, the third to hit the mark in the last two years. Former teammates Sophia Hekkema and Ariel Walker both eclipsed the milestone last season.
R-P was tied 27-27 at halftime, but the host Eagles came up big down the stretch to come away with the win.
Irelyn Niklasch had 14 rebounds in the defeat.
