MUSKEGON TWP. - The Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team had a pretty exciting storyline last season.
The Rockets, despite the presence of three big scorers on the roster, got off to a slow start with a 3-4 record.
But then things started to click, and R-P reeled off an amazing 15 straight victories between Jan. 10 and Feb. 22.
Along the way they won key games against Muskegon, Mona Shores and Zeeland West and claimed the always hotly-contested O-K Green conference championship.
The season ended on a disappointing note when the Rockets were upset by Kenowa Hills 42-41 in the Division 1 district semifinals, but overall it was a great season.
Brooklyn Tornes
The Rockets finished 18-6 overall and 13-1 in conference play.
““it was very exciting,” said R-P Coach Rodney Walker. “Just the way the girls came together made it a great season for us.”
With a new season beginning on Tuesday at Grand Haven, the Rockets are now facing the challenge of filling a lot of holes on the roster. Most of the players from last year’s squad earned their diplomas and moved on, including Sophia Hekkema and Ariel Walker, two of the big three scorers.
“We only have three players back (from last year’s team,” Walker said.. “We lost a bunch of seniors. We’re going to be really young and won’t have much experience, but the returners we have should be able to provide some leadership.”
The return of senior guard Brooklyn Tornes, the third big scorer from last season and a fourth-year varsity starter, will be huge for the Rockets.
Irelyn Niklasch
Last year, as a junior, she averaged 9.5 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game. Her scoring numbers could have been bigger, but she didn’t need to shoot as much while playing alongside Hekkema and Walker.
Now she will be the go-to girl, and Coach Walker believes she is up to the task and the extra pressure.
“She’s ready for it for sure,” Walker said. “She’s been working hard this summer, and she’s been transitioning into the leader we’re going to need her to be. Across the board, she fills up the stat sheets, and I think she’s excited about being the focus of the offense this year. I think she’s going to have a breakout year. Her goal is to play college basketball.”
While Tornes will provide much of the scoring with outside shooting and driving to the basket, the Rockets are also hoping to have a potent inside game with the emergence of senior 5-foot-8 post player Irelyn Niklasch, who was a part-time starter last season.
Niklasch is a physically strong player who gets points in the paint and also has the ability to score from the perimeter.
Megan Barmes
Last year she quietly earned honorable mention All-Conference honors for doing so many important things so well.
Walker expects her to step into the limelight this season and give the Rockets an extra boost that opponents may not be expecting.
“Last year she did so many things that didn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet, but she was definitely a presence on the floor,” the coach said. “She is going to be really huge for us this year. She is a huge post presence and she can knock down shots from the outside. She does a great job of rebounding and she’s defensively sound in the middle.”
The third returner this year is senior Megan Barmes, a talented athlete who did not see a ton of court time last season but will become a starting guard this year.
Barmes is only 5-foot-5, but is a multi-sport athlete who excels in just about everything she does, and in basketball is a very good outside shooter.
Tornes drives toward the basket during a game last season.
“She played pretty sparingly last year, but she did a great job when the starters got in foul trouble or needed a break,” Walker said. “She always gave us a lift off the bench. She’s a great shooter. She does a great job of knocking down three-pointers, She is a player with a motor and she’s not going to get tired.”
Four players will probably compete to fill the other two starting spots, and will be key coming off the bench. They are juniors Jenna Terpstra, Savannah Lockwood, Chloe Brainard and Mallorie Messer.
Overall Walker expects to have a defensive-oriented team that might take opponents by surprise.
“Our strength is that we have a roster full of players who are very competitive and full of energy,” the coach said. “I think we will have a really scrappy team. We don’t have a lot of skill players, but we will be very good defensively. I think we will be very good at disrupting offenses.”
