MUSKEGON TWP. — Muskegon boys basketball coach Keith Guy will tell you his Big Reds have plenty to work on early in the season.
Even still, the results on the floor through two games have been promising.
After a 24-point win over Traverse City Central to open the campaign, Muskegon turned in another dominant performance against East Kentwood in the finale of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Basketball Classic on Tuesday.
Muskegon overcame a bit of a slow start to blast the Falcons 61-42 at Reeths-Puffer High School.
[1]“It was a good second game for us,” Guy said. “We’ve got a long way to go of course. I’m proud of my guys. We’ll get in a rhythm offensively. We defended really well. Offensively we’re one or two steps off, but that will come with time and more game reps.”
Maurice Sain Jr. had an all-around game for the Big Reds. He finished with 12 points and was a leader on the defensive side of the ball.
“He’s that glue guy,” Coach Guy said of Sain Jr. “He guards the other team’s best player and makes plays when we need him to. He can do it all. He can get us in the offense, he can guard the post, he can shoot the jump shot and get to the basket. He does a lot.”
Guy said he’s happy with the win, but his team has to get off to better starts in future games, as well as make their shots at the foul line.
“First of all, we’ve got to start better. We started in a hole 7-2, the first game we started off 6-0,” he said. “We have to do better at the free throw line. I thought we could have put it away a little earlier. I think we’ve got to value possessions better.”
[2]The Big Reds’ big win served as the nightcap for the Hall of Fame Classic, which returned after being canceled last season.
“(We) missed it a lot,” Guy said. “To come in with a lot of people here and the atmosphere and the buzz that was in the building tonight was just outstanding.”
East Kentwood started the game with a 7-2 run in the opening minutes before the Big Reds took control. Muskegon ended the first quarter on a 14-5 run to lead 16-12 after one.
The Big Reds continued to roll in the second, extending the lead to double-digits with about three minutes left in the half. Muskegon led 30-19 at halftime.
Muskegon’s lead grew as large as 20 points in the third quarter and the Big Reds led 46-30 after three quarters. The Falcons never got closer than 15 points in the fourth as Muskegon cruised to the win.
Jordan Briggs led Muskegon with 20 points, including three 3-pointers and a 5-for-7 showing at the foul line. Ethan Hill added 13 points for Muskegon and Anthony Sydnor III had seven.
[3]
[4]