MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – Both of Reeths-Puffer’s junior standouts are healthy and playing well, and the results are starting to reflect that.

The Rockets started the season without the services of 6-8 post player Travis Ambrose, who was nursing an injury, and they just weren’t the same.

They won their opener over Allendale by two points, then lost a lead and fell to Grand Haven by six.

Ambrose returned for spot duty in the third game, but wasn’t at full strength, and the Rockets fell to Godwin Heights by two points.

But Ambrose is feeling great now, and he’s teaming with fellow junior Jaxson Whitaker to create havoc for opponents, just like they did last season.

That was evident in R-P’s fourth game, a 58-44 win over East Grand Rapids, and again on Wednesday when the Rockets thumped Jenison 60-30 in the second of three games at the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic at Reeths-Puffer High School.

Whitaker poured out a game-high 26 points while Ambrose added 16.

“They are both really good,” said Reeths-Puffer coach Nate Aaredema about Whitaker and Ambrose. “They compliment each other from the inside and outside. Travis (Ambrose) is getting his legs back under him and you’re starting to see a little bit of how he was before the injury. They are two of the best players in the state of Michigan.”

The Rockets gave up the first point of the game, then led the rest of the way.

Reeths-Puffer jumped out to an 18-9 lead after the first quarter, with Ambrose scoring six points and Whitaker adding five.

The R-P defense was at its best in the second quarter, holding Jenison to four points. That allowed the Rockets to take control for good by building a 34-13 halftime lead.

Whitaker paced Reeths-Puffer in the second quarter with 10 points while Ambrose and Antrel Jones each had three.

“I thought the four-point second quarter was huge for us,” Aardema said. “We made a couple of tweaks, and the guys were proactive.”

The Rockets continued to dominate during the third quarter, outscoring Jenison by a 13-7 margin to take a 47-20 lead into the fourth.

Whitaker and Ambrose scored all of Reeths-Puffer’s third-quarter points with eight and five, respectively.

The Rockets closed out the game with a 13-10 fourth quarter advantage and pulled their starters with 5:38 remaining while leading 52-20.

Whitaker, Bailey Swain and Tyvea Williams each scored three points for the Rockets during the fourth, while Ambrose and Cade Borgeson each added two.

“We worked really hard during the offseason in the gym to prepare for this season,” a happy Whitaker said after the game. “Travis is my best friend and we do everything together. That helps us on the court, and it allows our team to come together and build great chemistry.”