By Jacob Arvidson
LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTON SHORES – The Mona Shores boy’s basketball team is definitely a work in progress.

That was evident on Tuesday, when the Sailors allowed Jenison standout Jacob Boonyasith to score 41 points and dropped an 84-56 decision to the Wildcats in O-K Black Conference action.

Ke’Vonte’a Pegues handles the ball, guarded by Kyle Nott. Photo/Eric Sturr

But there are reasons for optimism for the Sailors, who have two sophomores and a freshman in their rotation.

Mona Shores is 4-9 on the season (2-5 in the O-K Black), but all four of those wins have come in recent weeks, following an 0-5 start.

And they have good young players on the way up. One is freshman guard Jarvis Walker, who pumped in 24 points against Jenison on Tuesday, and has scored in double figures in every game this season.

Sophomore James Gilbert came off the bench and added 12 points for the Sailors.

“He’s one of the top freshman that’s ever going to come through Mona Shores,” Mona Shores coach Doug Burse said about Walker. “He’s the future of Mona Shores, I really believe that.”

Burse didn’t see many other positive signs out of Tuesday’s game, but said he’s noticed bright spots throughout the season.

“We played a good game last week against Muskegon for two quarters,” the coach said. “I think my guys can play, but we need to put it together.

Mona Shores’ Cam Eigenauer blocks the shot in the paint from Jenison’s Jacob Boonyasith. Photo/Eric Sturr

“I’m playing two sophomores and a freshman. If these guys spend more time in the gym, we’ll get a lot better. Right now I’m trying to focus on spending time in the gym.”

The Sailors were competitive in the first half against Jenison.

After trailing 16-12 after one quarter, the Sailors opened the second with a 6-0 run to take an 18-16 lead. But Jenison responded with a 12-0 run and entered halftime with a narrow 32-26 lead.

The Wildcats used another 12-0 run coming out of halftime to bury any hope the Sailors might have had.

Jenison’s Colton Ritsema and Harry Hevelhurst scored 13 and 10 points, respectively, to add on to Boonyasith’s 41-point outburst.

“Nothing went right,” Burse said. “When you have somebody come in your house and get 40 points on you, that’s (a low point) for me and my team.

“We go back to work tomorrow, focus on what we didn’t do, and just get after it.”

The Sailors will look ahead to Friday, when they host Fruitport, a team they beat 70-30 earlier this season.