“Well, the shoe goes on the other foot tonight…” — George Jones
A year ago the Wayland gi
rls’ varsity basketball team was rated among the top five in the state, was O-K Gold Conference co-champion with Grand Rapids Catholic Central and had to beat South Christian a third time in the season to take the district title.
This year South Christian is rated among the top five teams in the state, was O-K Gold Conference co-champion with Catholic Central and had to beat Wayland a third time in the season to win the Class B district crown.
The Sailors accomplished the last leg of the turnaround Friday night by defeating Wayland 63-42 to hoist the district trophy and improve their overall season record to 21-2.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, finished with a 10-12 record, their first losing season in quite a spell.
South Christian, behind the one-two offensive punch of all-state guard Jenn DeBoer and forward Markayla Vander, never trailed in the contest. With both swishing threes, getting fast-break layups off turnovers and penetrating the basket, the Sailors shot out to a 16-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter and went on a 22-10 run in the second to mount a 38-21 cushion at intermission.
Vander collected 17 points in the first half and DeBoer had 14, the two accounting for an astonishing 31 of their team’s 38 points.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, were getting killed in the rebounding department, most of the time seemed to be on the losing end of loose balls and committed turnovers that resulted in those easy fast-break baskets.
Wayland improved its inside game in the second half and even outgunned the Sailors in the third period, but by then it was pretty much over.
DeBoer finished off the Lady Wildcats early in the fourth quarter with her quick-release threes and coast to coast layups to finish with 31 points. Vander’s offensive game was slowed considerably in the second half, as she wound up with 19.
Senior forward Hope Dollarhide was the only Wayland players to reach double figures, as she closed out her high school career with 17 points, mostly through some nice inside moves close the hoop.
Senior Sydney Ritz, who with Dollarhide furnished most of the rebounding, dropped in eight points and seniors Karli Warning and Ali Cutler both had seven. Up until the last minute, these four were the only Wildcats to break into the scoring column for the night. Sophomore Brandalyn Helderop nailed a three near the end to become the fifth Lady Wildcat to score.
It was the last game as Wildcats for seniors Dollarhide, Ritz, Cutler, Warning and Ali Martus.
PHOTO: Hope Dollarhide scored 17 points and led Wayland in rebounding in her last prep ballgame. (Photo courtesy of Kenny Ritz)
