By Lucas Rains
Local Sports Journal
MUSKEGON – Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon are two of the teams that were expected to compete for the O-K Black Conference girls basketball title this year.
The Rockets got a jump in the race Friday night, using a big third quarter to gain an important 69-56 victory over the Big Reds on their home court.
RP No. 5 Artrese Williams dissects the Lady Reds press photo/Tim Reilly
“I thought we played great,” said Reeths-Puffer Coach Brandon Barry. “I thought we played really aggressive, maybe too aggressive at times. They played their butts off tonight in a great rivalry. All those kids know each other.
“Credit (Muskegon) as well. They never gave up and played right down to the last seconds of the game.”
Muskegon jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game, but Reeths-Puffer took control later in the first quarter and led 13-11 at the first buzzer.
In the second quarter, Muskegon’s Mardrekia Cook and Reeths-Puffer’s Camaryia Williams carried the load for their teams, each scoring eight points. The Rockets led 27-23 at the half.
Muskegon No. 12 Mardrekia Cook drives the lane photo/Tim Reilly
The Big Reds pulled ahead 36-35 in the third quarter, but that was the last time they even got close. The Rockets closed the quarter with a 15-2 run and led 50-38 at the final break.
Five Reeths-Puffer players scored in the third, with Brooke Larabee leading the way with seven points.
“I think we’re starting to share the basketball better,” Barry said of his team’s improving offense. “All those kids in the starting five can score in double figures.”
Reeths-Puffer opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 19-point lead, its largest of the game.
Cook scored 15 of her game-high 34 points in the fourth to bring Muskegon within nine at one point, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Williams paced the Rockets with 23 points, Larabee added 15, Elysia Mattos scored 11 while Delaney Bolles chipped in nine.
