The Reeths-Puffer girls basketball team had a slow start on Friday, and that pretty much determined the outcome of the game.
The Rockets were outscored 18-4 in the first quarter and went on to lose 43-31 to a good Mona Shores team in an O-K Green conference matchup.
R-P played the Sailors evenly in the other three quarters, with a two-point edge in the second, a one-point deficit in the third and a one-point advantage in the fourth.
Overall, that's pretty good for an underclass-dominated team like the Rockets, who are still learning the varsity game.
R-P's Raquel Walker: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Mona Shores came in with a 6-2 record, including four straight wins, but had to rely on the hot first quarter to beat R-P.
Reeths-Puffer fell to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Rockets have lost three of their last four games.
Raquel Walker and Trinity Moore led the R-P offense with seven points apiece while Grace Tindall scored five.
Walker, a freshman, also had nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
The Rockets will visit Byron Center on Tuesday.