The Wayland girls’ varsity basketball team Friday night absorbed its first defeat this season at Byron Center, 63-44.

Meanwhile Hopkins girls evened their season record at 2-2 with a 54-48 decision over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian. The Lady Vikings next Tuesday will be at home to play Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.

The Wildcat boys won their season opener, 71-51, over visiting Hopkins, which saw its season record slip to 1-1.

“Down by 13 at half, we climbed back within five points in the third quarter, but turnovers proved to be the difference tonight as the lead for the Wildcats grew down the stretch,” commented Vikings’ coach Jake Jewett.

Tristen Perry led Hopkins in scoring with 18 poimts, followed by Noah Corneille with 14.

The Lady Wildcats got off to a decent start, leading 15-14 at the end of the first quarter. But things went south after that against a Division 1 school.

Wayland scored only two points in the second period.

Harmony Laker had 17 points and Madalynn Terry had 13, including three, three-pointers

It was their first loss after winning their first three games. They will be be back on the road for the fourth straight time Tuesday evening at Covenant Christian.

The Hopkins guys will return to action Tuesday at Kent City. Wildcat boys won’t be back in action until next Friday when they travel to Comstock Park.