MUSKEGON TWP. – It looks like the Muskegon Big Reds are poised and ready for districts – and perhaps something far beyond that – in boys basketball this season.

The Big Reds nailed down the O-K Green conference championship last Friday after beating Mona Shores on the road.

Muskegon had another challenge on Tuesday night with a road contest against the league’s second-place team,  Reeths-Puffer, which was hosting its first game at the newly named Dan Beckman Arena, in honor of the school’s beloved retired principal.

But the Big Reds put a damper on the Rockets’ dedication celebration, cruising to a 54-30 victory over the Rockets in a battle of the best in the O-K Green.

Muskegon’s Ethan Hill tries to drive past a pair of Reeths-Puffer defenders.

Muskegon is now 16-1 on the season and 13-0 in conference play.

This game was not as close as the last time these teams met in late January, when Muskegon managed an eight-point win at home.

“I think we have gotten better since then,” said Muskegon coach Keith Guy. “We have some guys with more experience under their belts, and I like our group.”

The Big Reds have just three more regular season games left until the local Division 1 district tournament, where they could face Reeths-Puffer for a third time this season, and could also run into a very good Grand Haven squad.

But Coach Guy is very confident his team can pass the test and go as far as winning a state title.

Muskegon’s Jordan Briggs sets up a play. Photo/Steve Gunn

“We have to understand that if we see Puffer again that this game we played today doesn’t matter,” Guy said. “Our expectations are a state championship, and this team ranks up with some of the better teams that we have had.

“I love this group. They play well together, and they work hard.”

The Big Reds were paced by Jordan Briggs with a game-high 16 points, while Stanley Cunningham added 11 and Anthony Sydnor III had nine.

Muskegon jumped out to an 18-3 lead after the first quarter. Briggs scored seven points during the opening stanza and Cunningham had five.

Reeths-Puffer’s Andrel Jones puts up a layup in heavy traffic.. Photo/Steve Gunn

Reeths-Puffer was hampered by foul trouble, especially when its leading scorer, Travis Ambrose, picked up his third personal in the third quarter.

“He is one of the better players in the area and in the state,” said Reeths-Puffer coach Nate Aardema about Ambrose. “Playing without him for a long stretch was going to be tough, but Muskegon made everything tough tonight.”

The Rockets outscored Muskegon by a slim 10-9 margin in the second quarter but only cut their deficit to 27-13 at halftime.

The Bigs Reds came out strong in third quarter, outscoring Reeths-Puffer 19-7 to take a commanding 46-20 lead heading into the fourth.

Briggs was one of six different players who scored for Muskegon during the third quarter, leading with five points while David Day III added four.

The Rockets finished the game by outscoring Muskegon 10-8 in the final quarter.

Travis Ambrose led Reeths-Puffer with nine points while Clyde Bartee had five.

The Rockets are now 12-6 on the season and 9-4 in conference play.

“Muskegon was really tough tonight,” said Aardema. “We got out of what we needed to do tonight, but they took us out of it.”