MUSKEGON TWP. — After a slow start to their O-K Green opener against Reeths-Puffer, the Muskegon Big Reds locked down defensively, got some shots to fall and cruised to a 51-26 win on Friday night.

The Big Reds led just 20-15 at halftime, but used a 19-5 edge in the third quarter to take control of the game.

“I thought they were tougher than we were in the first half,” Muskegon head coach Keith Guy said. “Every rebound, loose ball, they beat us to it. I challenged our guys at halftime about rebounding, finishing the possession and being tougher.

“We pride ourselves in toughness, doing the dirty work. I thought we did that in the second half.”

Jordan Briggs directs the Muskegon offense against Reeths-Puffer. Photo/Mitchell Boatman

Muskegon’s defense suffocated the Rockets after halftime, limiting Reeths-Puffer to 11 second half points, six of which came in the final two minutes.

“We just struggled to score,” Reeths-Puffer coach Nate Aardema said. “They’re defensive pressure was tremendous all night and we just struggled to get open looks. I thought our kids played hard, we’ve just got to be able to handle the ball against pressure.”

With a pair of teammates in foul trouble in the first quarter, Anthony Sydnor III stepped up for Muskegon in the first half. He scored eight of the teams 20 points before halftime and played solid defense on Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker all night.

“He’s still a little banged up, but he’s gutting it out,” Guy said of Sydnor. “I thought he did a good job tonight, and he did a good job of guarding Jaxson. He had to carry us a little bit offensively, then he had to carry us defensively.”

Aardema said his team will continue to work and get better as conference play continues.

Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker follows through on a made three-pointer. Photo/Mitchell Boatman

“The kids, they’ll be resilient,” he said. “They’re willing to work to be successful. I’m not worried about them in terms of their mindset there. We’ve just got to turn the page and get ready for the next one.”

Neither team found much of a rhythm in the first quarter, with Muskegon leading 5-4 at the first break. The offense picked up in the second, with Muskegon outscoring the Rockets 15-11 to lead 20-15 at the half.

Sydnor III scored seven in the second quarter to pace the Big Reds. Travis Ambrose had eight in the quarter and 12 in the first half.

Jordan Briggs, who was held scoreless in the first half after playing just five minutes due to foul trouble, started the second half on fire. Briggs scored Muskegon’s first 12 points of the half on four three-pointers to extend the lead to 32-17. Muskegon led 39-20 after three quarters.

Muskegon had a 12-6 advantage in the fourth, including the first six points of the period.

Reeths-Puffer’s Brayden Mitchelson dribbles while Muskegon’s Montrel Oliver defends. Photo/Mitchell Boatman

Briggs led Muskegon with 12 points, all coming during his third quarter three-point barrage. Sydnor III had 10 for the Big Reds, followed by Montrel Oliver and Stanley Cunningham with seven each.

Ambrose led Reeths-Puffer with 14 points, followed by Whitaker with six.

Muskegon is now 4-0 on the season, including 1-0 in the O-K Green, and will be back in action Saturday, Jan. 7, against Ferndale.

Reeths-Puffer is now 3-3 and 0-1 in conference play.