It was bad enough that Wayland lost a girls’ basketball game to a team that was winless in its first 15 contests this season, but an eerily terrible first half that was like the Twilight Zone overshadowed a heroic comeback that fell short.

The Lady Wildcats became the first victim of Forest Hills Eastern in a raucous 53-49 verdict that left them with an overall season record of 3-14.

Wayland played so badly in the first half that it looked like a throwback to girls’ teams from the mid-1970s, when Title IX first permitted the fairer sex to play the game just like the guys. The Lady Wildcats, indeed a study in inexperience, but steady improvement, took a giant step backward with tentative and timid attitudes on the offensive side of the court.

To be sure, things started well, as sophomore center Stephanie Ainsworth laid in a couple easy hoops off the glass to put the hometown girls up 4-0, but they were outscored 27-12 by intermission. Ryan Harvey was having career night with 18 points in the first 16 minutes, including three, three-point baskets. So Forest Hills went to the lockerroom enjoying a 27-16 cushion.

The Lady ‘Cats did show some spark in the third period, playing their opponents evenly, but they were still down by 11 points, 41-30, heading into the final eight minutes. They slowly, but effectively shut down Harvey for a little more than a quarter and Ainsworth began to score underneath the basket.

Sophomore guard Parish Hudson sparked an amazing comeback in which the home team clawed its way to close the gap. The most spectacular event came with just 1:11 left when Hudson nailed a three-pointer from near midcourt and her defender was whistled for a foul. The defender’s vociferous protest, not long after a warning from officials  to Hawks’ coach Preacher Lee, resulted in a technical foul.

Hudson, already having scored the three, sank three consecutive free throws and astonishingly enabled the ‘Cats to take a one-point lead, 49-48. Furthermore, Wayland had possession of the basketball and proceeded to attempt a stall, but failed on a traveling call.

Harvey answered like a woman on a mission, taking the ball herself to the hoop for layup to take back the lead and teammate freshman Brooke Toigo hit a pair of clutch free throws to salt away Forest Hills Eastern’s first hoops victory the campaign.

Harvey scored 25 points and Madison Haid added 12. Ainsworth led the Lady ‘Cats with 20 points and Hudson finished with 16.

(Photos courtesy of Josh Cline)