MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer sputtered on offense to start the second
half, and Mona Shores took full advantage, building a lead the Rockets
stood no chance of erasing on the way to a 65-51 O-K Green Conference
win.
The teams played a physical, hard-nosed game in the first
half, with Shores leading 25-19 at the break. The third quarter saw the
visitors explode for a 22-1 scoring run that put them in complete
command of the game.
R-P coach J.R. Wallace said the Sailors'
in-your-face brand of defense, combined with their success against the
Rockets' press, created a tough situation to overcome.
"Mona Shores came out and played
really hard," Wallace said. "They climbed into Marv(in Moore) and they ended up giving him a little bit of reflux tonight. They
did a good job. Ultimately, we've
got to be stronger with the ball. We've got to take care of it. We've got to execute. We've got to match that. I think
they let them get a little too physical, in my opinion, but it is what it is."
The
Sailors' Jonathan Pittman knocked down two three-pointers early in the
third to spark the Sailor run, which Wallace called "bonuses" to all the
other things Shores were doing well in that time. The only point the
Rockets (5-13, 3-4 O-K Green) scored during the 22-1 run was a technical
free throw after the Sailors were whistled for taunting due to a player
throwing up three fingers toward some Rocket fans after yet another
Mona Shores trey. Moore was later fouled on a drive, allowing him to
calm things down and get points at the line, and Brayden Mitchelson hit
the Rockets' first field goal of the third over six minutes into the
frame.
"We were trying to press, and they broke the press a couple times," Wallace said. "You end up trying to create some advantage
points for yourself, and sometimes that's the risk and reward you take when you're trying to press."
Reeths-Puffer's Elliot Schneider tries to defend a shot by Mona Shores' Jonathan Pittman during Friday's game at R-P. The Rockets lost, 65-51.
Moore had 19 points in the game and Mitchelson had 18. Pittman scored 19 for Shores.
The
loss kept the team from making it a fully celebratory night as the
Rockets honored all-time leading scorer Jaxson Whitaker, who came back
to the school Friday. Whitaker, who's playing and shooting well while
averaging about 15 minutes per game for Ferris State University as a
freshman this season, was presented a large framed photo of himself in
action, which will be hung at the north end of the gym in commemoration
of his R-P accomplishments.
Reeths-Puffer alum Jaxson Whitaker is honored by the school Friday with a large framed photo of himself in action. The school announced it will display the photo at the north end of the gym.
Wallace, who coincidentally was
the scoring record holder until Whitaker broke it last year, didn't
coach Whitaker as this is Wallace's first season, but said he's pleased
to see how well the recent former Rocket is now doing.
"It's really nice to see a kid get a chance to play college ball, then
come back to the same place I
graduated from," Wallace said. "I was the all-time leading scorer here for 20-some years
and now it's Jaxson's turn. When he broke it, I called him and talked to
him about it, (saying,) 'It's a big responsibility, but it's not your
responsibility. Enjoy it. Have fun with it, and do the best you can to
represent Reeths-Puffer as you hit the collegiate level.'"
R-P
still feels it's getting better as the season progresses - Wallace has
adopted a "no losses, just lessons" credo for the team - and with the
Rockets hosting this year's district tournament, they hope to give the
home crowd a show in the postseason. Friday's struggles provided a big
lesson from which to learn.
" I told them, one of the things
that you have to do is as you're going into your manhood, you're going
to have to take tough pills like that," Wallace said. "You've got to swallow the loss,
go in like a man and shake their hand and focus on the next time."
