JENISON – When you have a lot of underclassman in their first year of varsity competition, you look for any opportunity for growth.
The Reeths-Puffer boys basketball team had several of them on Friday night in a 56-49 road loss to Jenison in O-K Green conference play.
One of those lessons was learning how to play in front of packed crowd - something that's pretty rare in high school basketball - with most of the fans obviously rooting for the other team.
R-P's Marvin Moore takes a three-point shot. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Jenison had a “Pink Night” to benefit cancer research, creating a true road environment.
The young Rockets handled that pretty well, staying within shooting distance of the Wildcats the entire game.
But they couldn’t get over the hump. They dug themselves a hole by only scoring seven points in a rough second quarter, and were unable to close the gap in the fourth, despite having a slight scoring edge.
R-P has had a number of games this season when victory was within reach in the final quarter, but was not quite achieved. That was the case on Friday, because Jenison struggled at the free throw line, particularly in the fourth quarter, but R-P could not take advantage.
R-P's Rodney Walker drives toward the bucket. Photo/Tyler Lirones
Senior Marvin Moore, who is having another great season and finished with 24 points, was held scoreless in the first half of the fourth quarter, and nobody stepped up enough to fill the gap.
“That’s what we’re working on,” said Rocket head coach JR Wallace. “We’re trying to get our young guys opportunities to step up and knock down shots. Tonight it just didn’t happen, but it has been lately.”
Wallace said the environment and game experience on Friday provided lessons his program will use as it grows going forward.
“Most definitely we’ll use it,” the coach said. ”An environment like this is exciting and it was for a good cause. Now we see how it is in a loud, big environment when you got people screaming and shouting as you go up and down the floor.”
R-P's Artis Williams gets ready to make a move on a defender. Photo/Tyler Lirones
The Rockets got off to a decent start, trailing just 14-11 after one quarter of play behind eight points from sophomore Rodney Walker.
The second quarter went poorly for the Rockets, with only Moore able to find the bucket. He scored seven points, but Jenison netted 13 and led 27-18 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Reeths-Puffer sprung back to life, this time outscoring Jenison 16-15 to trail 42-34 headed into the fourth.
Moore led the Rockets with eight points in the quarter while Walker and Justin Chan each had three.
R-P head coach JR Wallace shouts instructions. Photo/Tyler Lirones
R-P had a 15-14 edge in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to steal the victory.
The Wildcats left the door open for the Rockets in the final eight minutes, missing 10 of a whopping 18 free throws. Overall Jenison was 19-for-35 from the line.
Moore ended up with six points in the fourth, but nobody else scored more than two for the Rockets.
Walker finished the game with 13 points for Reeths-Puffer.
R-P is now 2-13 overall and 0-4 in conference play, and will return to action on Monday at Byron Center in another conference matchup.