Biff! Boff! Wham Socko! Perhaps the best descriptions of Wayland’s first quarter at home Tuesday night against East Grand Rapids.
The Wildcats played arguably their best quarter of basketball this season while streaking to a 20-3 lead over the first eight minutes, but they failed to outscore EGR in each of the next three quarters while hanging on for a 49-36 victory. The verdict halted a mild slump in two defeats against teams they beat earlier this season and lifted their overall season record to 11-6, 5-4 in the O-K Gold Conference.
Senior forward Jack Donewald scored on a layup in the first 15 seconds and successive three-point field goals by guards Ternor Hudson, Justin Holtz and Carson Sevigny, two free throws by Cory Ainsworth and another three by Holtz enabled Wayland to shoot out to a 16-0 lead in the first four minutes of the ballgame.
Pioneer sophomore Ben Whiteside finally got his team into the scoring column with a three and the game six minutes old.
The first 16 minutes were unusual in that East failed to physically score a two-point field goal. The only two came on a goal tending call and the other 12 were the result of four threes. The Wildcats enjoyed a 29-14 advantage at intermission.
The hometown guys failed to score in the first three minutes of the second half, a lull ended by Donewald with a tip-in. At that point, the Pioneers had crept to within 10 points, 29-19.
Wayland was fortunate to keep East at bay for the rest of the evening, never letting the gap get closed to less than double figures. But the Pioneers’ full-court pressure defense was reminiscent of Lowell’s comeback efforts in the season opener. Though they never could catch the ‘Cats, they made things interesting for too long in the eyes of coach Mike Hudson.
One big play was at the third period buzzer, when Ternor Hudson was fouled on a three-point field goal attempt. He sank two of the three charity tosses all alone at the line and widened the gap to 13, 37-24, to start the final quarter.
Ainsworth, playing with four fouls, led Wayland with 16 points and he came up with five blocked shots. Hudson added a dozen points . Donewald, also playing with four fouls, had nine.
Whiteside scored 11 points for East Grand Rapids.
(Photos courtesy of Josh Cline)
