In what has been the most prestigious boys’ varsity basketball victory of the season, Wayland tuned back Muskegon 57-48 Tuesday night.

The win for coach Mike Hudson’s No. 4-ranked Class B team improved its overall record to 7-1. Muskegon, which game into the Wildcats’ lair ranked No. 8 in the latest Class A Associated Press statewide poll, fell to 7-3 overall.

The contest was tight in the early going, even though Wayland shot out to a 6-0 lead. The Big Reds fought their way back into the contest and by the time the first quarter ended they were up by only one point, 14-13.

Wildcat 6-7 junior center Zack Nieuwkoop scored eight points in the first eight minutes.

Defense took over for both squads in the second period, particularly for Wayland, which held the Big Reds to just five points and overtook them 23-19 at intermission.

Nieuwkoop was putting together a superhuman effort with his rebounding, inside scoring particularly rebounding. Sophomore Carter Nyp chipped in four big points off the bench.

Muskegon actually took a three-point advantage in the third quarter when Michael Littlejohn nailed a three to break a 23-23 tie, but Austin Johnson responded not long afterward with a three to enable the Wildcats to regain the lead, 28-26.

Wayland, sparked by a slam dunk from Nieuwkoop, widened the gap to 38-32 by the end of three. At that point the big guy had 20 points and point guard Avery Hudson only seven, but he was jet about ready to heat up.

Hudson nailed a three with 3:10 left on the scoreboard to put the ‘Cats up by eight, 46-38, and forcing Muskegon to foul. Fortunately, the two guys who went to the line often were Hudson and Nieukoop.

Hudson finished the game making seven of eight free throws and Nieuwkoop was eight for ten. Nieuwkoop led all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Hudson ended with 16 points.

Littlejohn led the Big Reds with 16 points and Linwood Lee had 11.

The victory came despite the fact starting guard- forward Michael Kelly spent much of the night on the bench with foul trouble. Guard-forward Mitchell Dykstra did not dress for the game and will miss the next three in his suspension for violating team rules.

PHOTO: Zac Nieuwkoop (Photo courtesy of Kenny Ritz)