FRUITPORT – It’s gut-check time for the Fruitport boys basketball squad.

That might sound like a harsh assessment for a team that’s had so much success. The Trojans are 14-5 so far, in a season that’s included two impressive five-game winning streaks.

But the Trojans have had their sights set on a conference championship, and a week ago were in first place alone in the O-K Silver conference standings.

But now they’ve lost two straight games for the first time this season, following Tuesday’s disappointing 58-51 defeat at the hands of visiting Godwin Heights in an important conference matchup.

Godwin Heights is now in first place alone with a 9-2 conference record. Fruitport is in second at 8-3, with three O-K Silver games remaining.

The Trojans’ fate is no longer completely in their control, but they certainly have to start winning again, beginning on Friday at home against third-place Calvin Christian, if they want to stay in the title hunt.

“It’s our first time losing two in a row,” said Fruitport head coach Steve Erny. “Every time we have lost before, we were able to bounced back and start a winning streak. You’ve got to give credit to the opponents. I think NorthPointe Christian (who the Trojans lost to on Friday) played a good game, and I think Godwin Heights played a good game tonight.

“We don’t have time to worry about it. We have to bounce right back on Friday night. Our fate is not in our control anymore. We need Godwin Heights to lose again. What is in our control is what we still have in front of us. I have no doubt that this group will respond.”

There were several moments in Tuesday’s game when it seemed like the Trojans would find a way to pull out a win. But each time they managed to take the lead, Godwin Heights answered with a potent attack from three-point range.

The Trojans started out very cold from the floor, making only 1 of 12 field goal attempts in the first quarter, and trailed 14-7 at the first buzzer.

Fruitport clamped down defensively in the second quarter, outscored the Wolverines 17-8, and grabbed a hopeful 24-22 halftime lead.

Dexter Lillmars had eight points in the quarter for Fruitport, including a pair of three-pointers.

The Trojans stayed hot at the start of the third quarter, opening with a 10-3 run, featuring a triple by Lillmars, layups from DayDay Williams and Grade Anspach, and a three-pointer by Trevor Rusnak.

Suddenly they led 34-25, and nerves were calmed around the Fruitport gym.

But Godwin Heights got hot in the final five minutes of the quarter, outscoring the Trojans 17-5 to take a stunning 42-38 lead heading in the fourth.

The Wolverines’ run included four three-pointers, including three from Jamaan Hastings, who came off the bench to ignite the rally.

“That was the most disappointing part to me,” Erny said. “We started that quarter really well, then we made some mistakes, they hit some shots, and all of the sudden they are up.”

Fruitport went cold from the floor again to start the final quarter, missing its first seven field goal attempts, plus two free throws. That allowed Godwin Heights to open up a 10-point lead, 48-38, with 3:40 left in the game.

The Trojans kept battling, but could get no closer than 56-51 with 12 seconds left.

Lillmars led Fruitport with 16 points, including four triples, while Williams finished with 15 points, including seven from the line.

Hastings totaled 17 points for the Wolverines, who made 10 three-pointers in the game.

“It was one of those nights,” Erny said. “I wish it wouldn’t have happened. Once we took the lead, I wish we could have hunkered down and played well the rest of the way, but it didn’t happen. Now we have to have a couple of good practices, then we have a big home game against a team that beat us earlier in the season.”