The Wayland girls’ varsity basketball team concluded the year 2017 and the Cornerstone Holiday High School Basketball Tournament Saturday afternoon with a 50-44 loss to Forest Hills Central.

The Lady Wildcats fell behind 15-8 in the opening quarter and then battled the Rangers evenly the rest of the way. They trailed 26-22 at intermission.

Senior pivot Sam Nieuwkoop had another solid game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She had 17 points in the tourney opening loss to Zeeland East.

Freshman guard Parrish Hudson came up with nine points and made the Lady ‘Cats’ only three-pointer in the ballgame. Senior Abby Merice dropped in all three of her field goal attempts and finished with eight points. Freshman forward Stephanie Ainsworth also had seven rebounds.

Madi Winter pumped in 26 points for Forest Hills Central and Claire Bauguly added 19, as the two accounted for all but one of the Rangers’ field goals.

The loss dropped the Lady Wildcats to 1-4 for the season. They will be back in action next Friday at Grand Rapids Christian to begin play in the O-K Gold Conference.

COVER PHOTO: Freshman Parrish Hudson

(Photos courtesy of Kenny Ritz)