By Mike Mattson
Local Sports Journal

Muskegon and Mona Shores started the girls’ basketball season as favorites in the OK Black Conference.

So it’s fitting they will end the final week of the regular season with a showdown for the outright lead. Both teams are 7-1 in league play entering Tuesday’s matchup at Redmond-Potter Gymnasium.

“This will be a battle at Muskegon,” said Shores’ coach Brad Kurth, whose team warmed up for the showdown with a 37-27 win Friday night at Reeths-Puffer. “We took care of business tonight to set up Tuesday. This is the biggest game for us this year.”

Junior Jasmyn Walker scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to spark the Sailors at Rocket Arena. Twins Morgan (4 steals) and Meredith Smith each scored six points and sophomore Jena’a Matthews added nine rebound for Shores, which is 10-8 overall.

Camaryia Williams made 9-of-16 free throws and led the Rockets with 13 points, while Kalisa Williams chipped in with seven points. Camaryia also had 12 rebounds and three steals.

The game was called closely with Shores being whistled for 23 fouls and the Rockets 20.

Puffer led 1-0 early, but trailed the rest of the way.

Shores led 12-6 after one quarter, 22-13 at halftime and 26-17 after three quarters.

The Rockets slipped to 11-7 overall and 4-4 in league play.

“The kids played their guts out defensively,” said Puffer coach Brandon Barry, whose team was outrebounded 39-26 and had 14 turnovers. “When you have that physical of a game, you have to reward yourself and hit free throws. They did that and we didn’t.”

Shores connected on 15-of-26 free throws and the Rockets converted 15-of-27. Both teams did not have a good night with their perimeter shooting.

The Sailors’ rebounding advantage was a big key, added Barry, whose team played shorthanded due to some suspensions.

Mona Shores 37, Reeths-Puffer 27

MONA SHORES (10-8, 7-1)
Rachel Anderson 0 2-2 2, Morgan Smith 1 4-5 6, Meredith Smith 3 0-0 6, Corrine DeWitt 1 1-2 3, Jena’a Matthews 1 1-2 3, Jasmyn Walker 5 6-11 16, Saddie Vela 0 1-4 1. Totals 11 15-26 37.

REETHS-PUFFER (11-7, 4-4)
Kalisa Williams 1 5-7 7, Casmaryia Williams 2 9-16 13, Taylor Seidell 0 0-2 0, Taylor Walker 0 1-2 1, Sara Bolak 1 0-0 2, Micah Peel 2 0-0 4. Totals 6 15-27 27.

Mona Shores 12-10-4-11-37
Reeths-Puffer 6-7-4-10-27

3-point fields-none. Total fouls-Mona Shores 23, Reeths-Puffer 20. Fouled out-none. JV-Mona Shores.