Reeths-Puffer pulls away for a boys basketball victory over rival Mona Shores

LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTON SHORES — A large crowd was treated to an entertaining basketball game on Tuesday night at the Sailor Center at Mona Shores High School.

A decisive 9-0 run in the final quarter carried the Reeths-Puffer Rockets to a 59-48 victory over the host Sailors.

The teams battled back and forth through three quarters before the Rockets’ late surge in the final eight minutes.

Mona Shores got out to a 17-15 lead after the first eight minutes of action. Reeths-Puffer answered back with a strong second stanza outscoring the Sailors 14-10 to take a 29-27 halftime lead.

Each team put up an 11-spot during the third period. The Rockets secured the win with a 19-10 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter.

“Big fourth quarter for us, as our pace started to wear down a bit,” said Reeths-Puffer head coach Nate Aardema. “We had ten different kids score and got contributions from our entire team.”

Jaxson Whitaker led the Reeths-Puffer offense with 19 points, four rebounds and six assists. Travis Ambrose tossed in 13 points, grabbed a team high 10 rebounds and had three blocked shots. Kyle Schlaff chipped in with six points.

The Sailors put three players in double figures, led by senior captains Mason Hallett and JT Foster with 13 points each. Jordan Bledsoe had a solid game with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Ryan Opsommer added six points. Daryl Robinson was lauded for his solid play on the defensive end.

Reeths-Puffer (6-5, 3-3) will travel to Holland on Friday before taking on Detroit Catholic Central on Saturday afternoon at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids at 3 pm

Mona Shores (4-8, 1-5) will host undefeated Muskegon on Friday night.