MONA SHORES – The Rockets made the short trek over to Mona Shores High School last Friday, both teams eager to secure a much-needed conference victory in their OK-Green campaigns. Entering the contest, both squads were winless in conference play at 0-1, making this matchup a critical opportunity to climb the standings.
Mona Shores, sitting at 4-7 overall, carried some momentum after snapping out of an early-season slump with back-to-back wins. After a challenging pre-winter break performance that saw them win just their opener against East Grand Rapids, the Sailors were determined to extend their streak. With tough opponents like Muskegon and Jenison looming, this game served as a pivotal chance to build some momentum.
Reeths-Puffer found itself in a similar situation, albeit without the recent success of their opponents. The Rockets, led by first-year head coach JR Wallace, had dropped two straight games and were hungry for a bounce-back win. Despite their determination, they found themselves facing a formidable Mona Shores team that proved just a bit more resilient in the end. Nevertheless, the Rockets gave the Sailors all they could handle in an intense, down-to-the-wire battle.
The game opened with fireworks from both teams, as they came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Mona Shores seized an early lead in the first quarter, but the scrappy Rockets refused to let the game slip away. The Sailors ended the quarter up by seven, but Reeths-Puffer’s relentless energy carried into the second quarter. The Rockets capitalized on their opportunities and clawed their way back, closing the gap to just three points at halftime, 32-29.
The third quarter, more of the same, as Reeths-Puffer continued to frustrate the Sailors and even managed to edge ahead, ending the quarter up by one. With the momentum swinging back and forth, the final quarter became an absolute shootout. Neither team could establish a comfortable lead, and the game came down to the final seconds.
With just seconds left, Mona Shores clung to a slim three-point lead. Marvin Moore, who had been the Rockets’ spark plug all game, was fouled on a critical three-point shot attempt. Sent to the free-throw line, Moore coolly sank the first shot to bring Reeths-Puffer within two. However, his second shot rimmed out, leaving the Rockets with a glimmer of hope. They attempted the “miss on purpose” free throw to regain possession, but Mona Shores came up with the rebound and sealed the victory, escaping with a hard-fought 55-53 win.
The Sailors were powered by standout performances from their core players. Jonathan Pittman, who doubles as Shores’ star quarterback, delivered a quiet double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, dominating the boards and providing second-chance opportunities. Jordan Bledsoe and Ryan Opsommer each chipped in 14 points.
The victory improved Mona Shores to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. They now set their sights on a tough road matchup against Jenison on January 14.
Reeths-Puffer, meanwhile, fell to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the OK-Green conference. Despite the loss, the Rockets demonstrated tremendous fight under Coach Wallace’s leadership, setting the tone for future games. They’ll look to bounce back when they host Byron Center on January 14 in another key conference clash.
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