Tuning up for their Class B district tournament showdown at 7 p.m. Friday evening, Wayland and Godwin both enjoyed a hardcourt breather Wednesday evening in the semifinals.
While the Wildcats were partying down to the tune of an 80-34 verdict over Grand River Preparatory, Wyoming Godwin Heights later in the evening won 86-47 over O-K Silver Conference rival Kelloggsville. So now it’s down to business.
Wayland, now 19-3 for the season overall, is ranked No. 6 in the latest state-wide poll of the Associated Press. The Wolverines, only beaten once this season in an upset at the hands of North Pointe Christian, are ranked No. 2. It’s too bad that two teams this good have to face each other this early in the post-season tournament.
The Wildcats had no trouble in the early going, scoring at will and putting a whopping 32 points on the board in the first eight minutes. They mounted a 32-10 advantage in the first quarter and widened the gap to 50-16 by intermission.
They were up 71-32 at the end of the third period, and the running clock started with about seven minutes left in the contest.
Sophomore forward Zac Nieuwkoop scored nine points in the first quarter and Avery Hudson and Lacey James contributed eight apiece.
Coach Mike Hudson began substituting freely in the second period and the ‘Cats continued to pull away.
Nieuwkoop finished with a career-high 22 points and hauled down six rebounds. James had yet another double-double with 17 points and a dozen rebounds.
Hudson ended the night will 11 points and he and senior point guard Dilon Aten both came up with six assists.
Eleven different Wayland players broke into the scoring column in the victory.
Shahaddah Camp led Grand River Prep with 21 points.
The winner of Friday night’s district finals showdown will play again at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the regionals at Charlotte.
PHOTO: Zac Nieuwkoop scored a career-high 22 points in the Wildcats’ district semifinal victory.
