The best girls’ and boys’ basketball seasons in Wayland history both were concluded within 24 hours of each other Thursday and Friday evening. The eerie part was that both lost by identical scores of 63-56.
The Lady Wildcats’ season ended with a 23-2 record Thursday at Charlotte against Haslett and the boys 24 hours later were on the short end of the same score against Wyoming Godwin Heights in a game played before a packed house of more than 2,000 and had all the atmosphere of championship hoops.
It is far from easy to take on the task of playing the state’s second-ranked Class basketball team on its home court, with the penalty of being sent home far too early in the post-season tournament. Godwin, now 21-1 for the overall campaign, now will head to Charlotte for the regional semifinals Monday night. The Wildcat boys, who finished at 19-4, are done.
The homestanding Wolverines pulled it off with several striking characteristics:
• They did not allow Wayland to make one three-point field goal all night until sophomore Avery Hudson drilled one with 5:20 left in the fourth quarter.
• They used a very effective man-to-man pressure defense that at times went full court and caused Wayland enough trouble to commit turnovers that turned into easy baskets on the run. That was giving the ‘Cats a taste of their own medicine. Even worse, four times the ‘Cats broke the press at the timeline and then committed a turnover.
• They somehow managed to scrap under the boards to come up with a lot of offensive rebounds for second and third chances at the basket,
• Their very aggressive and tenacious defense caused Godwin to be whistled for far more fouls, particularly in the first half, but not one of its players fouled out. And Wayland failed to make them pay, converting only 12 of 26 free throws.
• Leon Redd, despite not getting the press clippings of 6-5 all-stater Delaney Blaylock, drilled four three-point baskets and scored 16 points, and 6-4 forward Michael Williams came through at the free throw line down the stretch to widen the gap after Wayland had fought back to tie the ballgame at 43-all in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
In that all important last stanza Godwin outscored the Wildcats 20-14, mostly at the free throw line.
The contest was a lot like the physical war fans expected between two very good ballclubs. The lead see-sawed in the early going. Hudson made a layup at the first period buzzer to stake his teammates to a 12-11 advantage, but back-to-back threes by Karon Patrick and Christian Rodriguez to start the second quarter handed the Wolverines a 17-12 lead.
Wayland coach Mike Hudson had his charges regroup, and they came through with their own burst of six unanswered points to regain the lead at 18-17. Senior point guard Aten dished an assist underneath to sophomore forward Zac Nieuwkoop, Hudson hit a short jumper and Aten laid the ball in the basket off a fast break started by a Hudson steal. But Wayland would have to battle from behind for the rest of the evening.
Godwin took a 29-25 advantage into intermission and widened a 31-30 lead early in the third quarter on a three and two consecutively by Redd.
By this time, Lacey James was absorbing the weight of the world on his shoulders by taking the basketball outside and bringing it to the iron all by himself. The 6-7 senior pivot had a spectacular dunk at the third period buzzer that brought down the house and the ‘Cats to within one, 43-42. James made a free throw to start the fourth quarter to tie the score, but Godwin from there was able to gradually pull away via free throws.
James, in his last hardcourt appearance as a Wildcat, dropped in 26 points to lead all scorers. Nieuwkoop finished with 11 points, Aten, also in his swan song, had nine and Hudson eight.
Blaylock was held to 11 points, but Redd came up with 16 points and Williams and Patrick made up for it with 15 and nine points, respectively.
PHOTO: Lacey James had a monster final game for Wayland with 26points. (Photo courtesy Kenny Ritz)