The Wayland girls’ basketball team hiked its overall season record to 15-0 Tuesday evening with a 74-35 triumph over host Hamilton in a none-league encounter.
The Lady Wildcats streaked to a 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, then let Hamilton hand around for awhile with a 35-21 advantage at intermission. They went on a 22-9 run in the third period to turn the ballgame into a rout.
Wayland, ranked No. 2 in the latest state-wide Class B poll for the second straight week, had four of its team members score in double figures. All-state shoo-in Presley Hudson, still regarded as a major contender for the Miss Basketball title, led everybody with 25 points. Caroline Miller dropped in a 13 points, Ali Cutler, coming off a 20-point performance last Friday, netted 20, and Hope Dollarhide, continuing to recover from illness, was back in the groove with 10.
Kendra Bott scored 13 points to lead Hamilton and Courney VanderVorse added nine.
The Lady Wildcats will be shooting for their 16th straight Friday night at home against Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. Circle the date of Friday, Feb. 20, when coach Marti Howard’s ‘Cats will face their stiffest challenge for a perfect regular season at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Cougars lost to Wayland by just one point in double overtime in their earlier meeting and are ranked No. 5 in the state.
PHOTO: Presley Hudson is closing in on becoming Wayland High School’s most prolific scorer in girls’ basketball. The previous record for career point totals has been held for nearly 20 years by Angie Farmer Stauffer, who is now assistant varsity hoops coach at Caledonia High School. (Photo courtesy Kenny Ritz)