GRAND HAVEN – The Grand Haven boys basketball team had a great start to its season, but on Tuesday it was a slow start that doomed the Bucs in a 62-56 loss to O-K Red conference rival Rockford.

“When you start in such a big hole, it’s tough,” said Buccaneers head coach Greg Immink about his team’s slow start, which resulted in an 18-5 deficit after one quarter. “I think it just wears you out, and I think the lesson from today is you have to show up with passion, fire and desire right from the tip.”

With the loss, Grand Haven falls to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, a game behind Rockford, which improved to 9-1 overall and 4-0 in the O-K Red.

“It’ll make us better,” Immink said about his team’s first loss. “You don’t want to learn too many lessons from losses. I think this one hurt and some guys will come back to practice a little harder tomorrow. I’m excited about that.”

In the first quarter, the Grand Haven offense went 2-of-9 from the field while turning the ball over six times. Rockford hit four three-pointers in the quarter and led 18-5 at the buzzer.

Grand Haven outscored Rockford 16-14 in the second quarter to cut the Buccaneer deficit to 32-21 at halftime.

Harrison Sorrelle led Grand Haven with six points in the second quarter while Owen Worthington added five points.

Rockford helped itself with 8-for-12 shooting from the three-point line in the first half.

Bashir Neely, who started for Grand Haven but missed a good part of the first half, returned in the third quarter and made a difference. Neely and the Buccaneers outscored Rockford 15-7 in the third to head into the final quarter with just a 39-36 deficit.

Six different Grand Haven players scored in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Neely totaled eight points and Grand Haven cut its deficit to four points on multiple occasions, but was unable to get any closer. Grand Haven was outscored 22-20 in the final eight minutes.

“He’s obviously a huge part of our team,” said Immink about the difference Neely made in the second half. “Obviously the second half looked a lot better and he was a part of that. His intensity on defense and ability to get in the paint showed.”

Nic Stump led Grand Haven with 16 points, Sorrelle totaled 15 and Neely had nine.

Grand Haven will host East Kentwood on Friday.