NORTON SHORES – The Reeths-Puffer boys basketball team has been very competitive against some really good opponents so far this season.
But on most occasions the Rockets have fallen just short of pulling off the upset, and that happened again on Friday night when R-P dropped a nail-biter to rival Mona Shores, 55-53, in the Sailors' gym.
The exciting game ended at the free throw line.
With one tick remaining on the clock and Reeths-Puffer trailing 55-52, junior guard Marvin Moore was fouled while trying a half-court shot in an attempt to tie the game.
R-P's Marvin Moore takes flight over a defender for a layup. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Moore stepped to the line for three shots and another chance to knot up the score.
He made the first, missed the second, then purposefully missed the third, hoping a teammate would get a rebound and putback to force overtime.
That didn't happen, because R-P was called for a lane violation on the third shot, and Mona Shores was able to inbound, kill the clock and seal the win.
R-P head coach JR Wallace knew how Moore felt after the game.
R-P's Drew Brooks (5) puts up a shot. Photo/Tyler Lirones
“I appreciate him being the man in the arena," Wallace said. “He’s fortunate to have a coach who’s been there and done that. I’ve won some games, and I’ve lost some. You just learn the lessons that come from losses, and you show up tomorrow to get more shots up.”
R-P led 40-39 to start the fourth quarter, but Mona Shores went on a 10-0 run and took a 49-40 lead with 5:42 remaining.
Over the final 5:42, however, Reeths-Puffer answered with a run of its own, outscoring the Sailors 13-6, but it wasn't quite enough to pull even.
“It was great,” Wallace said about the resilient effort his team showed in the comeback attempt. “It was fun to really, in my opinion, put together our first complete game, from start to finish. We were the same team, and we had a fun, strong connection tonight.”
R-P's Brayden Mitchelson tries a fadeaway jumper. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Reeths-Puffer was led by Moore with 21 points while Brayden Mitchelson totaled 13.
Moore’s big night started in the first quarter, when he netted 10 points. That helped the Rockets stay in the game, because the Sailors ended the quarter with a 21-14 lead.
The Rockets responded in the second quarter, outscoring Mona Shores 15-11 to cut their deficit to 32-29 at halftime.
Moore knocked down two free throws with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter, giving Reeths-Puffer its first lead of the night, 36-34. R-P had an 11-6 edge in the third and led 40-39 heading into the fourth.
Brooks drives past a defender. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Mitchelson led R-P with six points in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the Sailors and Rockets trade scoring runs, leading to the dramatic ending at the free throw line.
Reeths-Puffer, now 2-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play, will host Byron Center on Tuesday.
Wallace is hopeful that Friday was just a preview of what his team can play like over the rest of the season.
“Just trying to figure out, was tonight because of the rivalry?" he said. "Or have we turned the corner, and this is the team that we are? That’s the question I have for them. I’m going to watch the film and do what I got to do, but is this who we can count on being next week?”