MUSKEGON TWP. – The Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team was set up for a trap game against one-win Holland on Tuesday night.
The Rockets came into the contest on a two-game winning streak and have a clash against powerful Muskegon looming on Friday night.
R-P is a team that’s just starting to find its rhythm after a tough start to the season, and Holland could have caused big trouble.
R-P's Brooklynn Tornes takes an off-balance shot. Photo/Tyler Lirones
But the Rockets refused to give in to the trap and came out ready to play, defeating the Dutch 55-31 in a home O-K Green conference matchup.
The team’s focus was evident from the jump as Reeths-Puffer ran out to a 19-3 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Reeths-Puffer was 7-of-13 from the field in the first quarter with senior standout Brooklynn Tornes netting 14 points.
“I thought it was very important,” R-P Coach Rodney Walker said about the fast start. “We wanted to do that. We just wanted to run our offense and be disciplined.”
R-P's Ashlynn David battles for a rebound. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The two teams were more even in the second quarter, when Reeths-Puffer took a 33-14 lead with six different players scoring points.
Tornes got hot again in the third quarter, scoring eight points, including two three-pointers, to help extend the Rocket lead to 48-23.
In the fourth quarter, Reeths-Puffer cruised to victory to improve to 3-5 overall on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
Tornes finished with 28 points and 11 steals while senior Irelyn Niklosch chipped in six points and nine rebounds.
Tornes races up the court with the ball. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“I just trusted my gut,” Tornes said about her big night. “l also trusted my team and everything. I didn’t want to rush anything or second guess. I just kind of let the game come to me. It’s really fun to show people what I can do.”
The Rockets were outrebounded 36-31 on the night but forced 34 Holland turnovers while turning the ball over just 14 times themselves.
“I think we’re getting better on defense,” Coach Walker said about his team. “Really that is our identity right now. We turn defense into offense and that’s something we’ve been trying to get better at. We’ve been working on layups a lot.”
On Friday, the Rockets and Muskegon will each come into the contest with undefeated conference records and winning streaks.
R-P's Savannah Lockwood tries to work her way around a defender. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“We know it’s a crosstown rival,” said Walker about what he expects from Friday’s game. “I think we’re getting ready and prepared. It’s always a big game against Muskegon. They have some outstanding players on that side, and we feel like we have some outstanding players on our side.
"We know we’ll have to match the energy and take care of the ball to compete. It will probably come down to whoever has the ball last.”
