FRUITPORT — As a big lead started to slip away and the team was struggling to find its shots, the Fruitport boys basketball squad looked to its bench for help on Friday.

The bench responded well.

In a tight third quarter against Comstock Park, Fruitport reserves Keontay Thompson, Evan Butler and Ryan Bosch provided a spark to swing momentum back to the Trojans.

That helped Fruitport rebuild its lead and grind out a 54-47 win over Comstock Park to complete a season sweep of the Panthers in O-K Silver conference play.

Fruitport is now 12-3 on the season, including 6-1 in the O-K Silver. The Trojans are now tied atop the conference standings with Calvin Christian, which lost to Kelloggsville on Friday.

In the final four minutes of that third quarter, Thompson scored two baskets, which were Fruitport’s only points in a five-minute stretch, after securing hard-fought offensive rebounds. Butler added two baskets of his own on fast break opportunities, and Bosch swatted a pair of key blocks while defending in the post.

“The energy most definitely helps,” Fruitport starter DayDay Williams said about the bench stepping up. “It most definitely lifts our spirits and gets us going.”

Bosch, a 6-foot-8 star on the baseball diamond who did not initially come out for the team this year, returned to the hardwood on Friday, giving the Trojans another post threat.

“This was Ryan Bosch’s first game back, and we’re kind of phasing him in a little bit,” said Fruitport Coach Steve Erny. “Our normal scorers weren’t necessarily on fire tonight, so to have Keontay with six points, Evan with four and Bosch with four was huge.”

Friday was an uncharacteristically cold shooting night for the Trojans. Fruitport made just one three-pointer all game and started 1-for-5 at the foul line before dialing in for the fourth quarter. The team survived the off night with another strong defensive performance.

“It felt like a grind,” Erny said. “We hit one three-pointer all game, and I’d argue we had a lot of good, open shots from our best shooters.

“We defended a lot better today than we did on Tuesday night. And I’d say we defended a lot better today against these guys than we did the first time. Again, shots didn’t fall so the game becomes a bit of a grind and we have to find a way to win.”

Fruitport got off to a strong start in the game, pulling out to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter. Six players scored in the frame, led by four each from Dexter Lillmars and Hudson Hazekamp.

The Trojans extended the lead to 20-6 in the second quarter, but the Panthers rallied and narrowed the score to 28-21 at halftime. Williams scored six points in the second to lead the Trojans.

Comstock Park pulled within three points midway through the third quarter, but baskets from Thompson and Butler and a three from Hazekamp — the lone Trojan triple of the game — helped extend the lead back to 40-31. A three from Comstock Park’s Bryce Marvin just before the third quarter buzzer made the score 40-34 heading to the fourth.

Fruitport took advantage at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to hang onto the lead. The Trojans scored 10 of their 16 fourth quarter points at the line, including a 6-for-6 showing from Williams.

“I just clear my mind, it’s just me and the rim,” Williams said of stepping to the line in clutch moments. “It’s all just practice. Just clear my mind, do my routine and shoot it.”

Comstock Park pulled within four in the final minute, but Fruitport closed with on a 7-2 run.

The biggest moment of the game actually came on the final shot of the night, after the final buzzer had sounded.

Fruitport’s team manager Kohen Moore, a senior, was dressed for Friday’s game and checked in for the final seconds to a gym full of cheers.

Moore, a special needs student at Fruitport, scored a basket as the game came to an end, and his teammates and the Trojan student section stormed the court to celebrate.

“Kohen’s a special part of our team,” Williams said. “He makes us laugh at practice, he makes us smile. He always comes in with a smile on his face and we all love him. He’s great, he just brings the excitement to the team.”

“Kohen is at every practice and at every game,” Coach Erny said. “He brings a positivity and a light-heartedness to our team that I think has really helped us get through a long, grinding season. Kohen has been a gift to this team more than anything that we’ve been to him.”

Williams led Fruitport with 15 points, followed by Hazekamp with nine. Grade Anspach added eight points, Lillmars and Thompson each had six, Butler and Bosch both scored four, and Trevor Rusnak had two points.

Fruitport’s next game is against Kelloggsville on Tuesday at home.