For the secon
d time in just one week, this is what revenge looks like. And it’s not pretty.
The Wayland boys’ basketball team got sweet revenge on Friday the 13th by pasting Middleville, but the Wayland girls’ were on the wrong and bitter end of revenge Friday night in a just plain awful 64-42 defeat at Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
The Lady Wildcats have been famous all season long for blowing out nearly all their opponents early and coasting the rest of the way. But at Catholic Central they got a taste of their own medicine.
Wayland came out of the gate not looking at all like its customary self, appearing confused and uptight. After missing their first seven s
hots from the floor, the ‘Cats were down 7-0 in the first three minutes and things afterward just went from bad to worse.
“Mama said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this.” — The Shirelles
Indeed. The host Cougars did to Wayland what Wayland usually does to everybody else. Here’s how:
• They weren’t really bothered by the Lady Wildcats’ full-court pressure defense, which customarily results in a flurry of easy baskets off turnovers. In fact, more than a few times, they’d beat the defense down to the basket across court and sneak in some easy layups.
• They patiently worked the ball inside to their big girls, who did a lot of damage under the hoop with three-point plays. Wayland was whistled so often that two starters, Ali Martus and Morgan Winger, finally fouled out. Winger, the only starting inside player who approximated Catholic’s size, sat out most of the ballgame in foul trouble.
• Perhaps most important, they really took advantage of Wayland’s only weakness — its lack of height. Besides getting the ball inside for easy hoops and three-pojnt plays, they dominated the boards and limited the ‘Cats too often to just one shooting opportunity.
• Catholic Central had moderate success in containing senior point guard Presley Hudson, who scored 40 points Tuesday night in a rout of Mattawan and is seriously considered for the coveted Miss Basketball crown. Hudson still came up with 20 points, but her devastating three-pointers were conspicuous by their absence. She made five in a row Tuesday and seven in all, but nary a one Friday night.
• The Cougars benefitted from Wayland’s inexplicable inability to make free throws. Usually quite adept in that category, they made only two of their first seven attempts at the line, helping to bloat the deficit much more than it should have been.
Martus and Caroline Miller both managed one three-point field goal apiece, but that was all for the Lady Wildcats.
Junior Megan Belke and senior Michaela Faber had their way with the Wildcats under the basket. Belke finished with 21 points and Faber scored 12 of 16 points in the first half blitz. Belke also had 10 rebounds. Senior guard Bri Spica, nailed a couple of three-pointers and collected 10 points.
The verdict unceremoniously ended Wayland’s 17-game winning streak and its dream of an undefeated season. It also left the two teams tied for first place the O-K Gold Conference. The Lady Wildcats entered the contest sharing the No. 1 spot in the latest statewide Associated Press Class B poll. Only time will tell Tuesday morning how far they will fall after sharing the lofty perch with Midland Bullock Creek.
PHOTO: Wouldn’t you know it: Coach Marty Howard finally gets his picture in the paper when his team suffers its first loss, causing him to sport this frown too often Friday night. (Photo courtesy Kenny Ritz)
Hope Dollarhide sets a pick for C.J. Miller (24) in the first encounter between Wayland and Grand Rapids Catholic Central, which had a much different verdict. (Photo courtesy Kenny Ritz)
