Hopkins gamely put up a scrap for awhile against Wayland in the opening round of the district basketball tournament Monday night, but in the end the state’s ninth-ranked Wildcats proved to be too much to the tune of 82-39.

The Vikings actually went on a 10-0 run and outscored Wayland 16-14 in the second quarter, but it already was almost too late as the home-standing Wildcats were up 40-21 and it never got much closer the rest of the way.

After Hopkins sophomore center Nolan Smith scored the game’s first two point the ‘Cats scored 10 unanswered points to force a timeout. Coach Mike Hudson threw a full-court press on the Vikings and before long the count was 22-2.

By the end of the first eight minutes senior point guard Avery Hudson ad 10 points and 6-7 center Zack Nieuwkoop eight.

The Hopkins burst came over two minutes midway in the second period, bringing a 31-5 count to 31-15. Smith scored three of the buckets and Brandon DeGroot tallied the other two.

But both guards Curtis Opatic and Hunter Llewellyn drew their third fouls just before intermission and Wayland continued to pull away.

The Wildcats blew the game wide open in the third quarter with a 31-8 run and coach Mike Hudson emptied his bench for a running clock for the rest of the ballgame.

Avery Hudson paced an offensive attack that featured four players in double figures. He had 22 points, Mitchell Dykstra 16, and both Nieuwkoop and Carter Nyp had 13.

Justin Weick led the Vikings with 13 points and Smith finished with 10. Hopkins finished its season with an overall record of 7-14.

Wayland will play Allegan in the second round at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. If the ‘Cats win that one they’ll be in the district finals at 7 p.m. Friday.

PHOTO: Justin Weick

Avery Hudson