If Wayland can get get past Benton Harbor in the regional finals and take its quarterfinal matchup next week, it will not face archnemesis Wyoming Godwin Heights in the semifinals.
Wayland did its part by subduing a stubborn Three Rivers quintet 67-44 Monday night, but Godwin, ranked No. 1 all season and the only Class B team to beat the Wildcats, meanwhile fell 69-65 to Williamston in its regional opener. But coach Mike Hudson is likely to point out that his team first must take care of business Wednesday against a Benton Harbor team that owns a 20-3 overall season record. The Tigers defeated Battle Creek Harper Creek 58-44 in the earlier regional semifinal at Allegan.
So it’s Benton Harbor vs. Wayland (21-3) for the Class B regional championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Wildcats came out a bit ragged in the early going Monday night against a scrappy and determined Three Rivers squad. The two teams battled to a 15-15 tie in the first eight minutes until the ‘Cats superior height advantage turned the tide. Sparked by a slew of blocked shots by 6-7 center Zack Nieuwkoop, 6-8 junior foward Carter Nyp and point guard Avery Hudson, Wayland was able to slow down its opponent’s point production considerably, to just six points in the second quarter.
As a result, the Wildcats streaked to a 34-21 lead at the break, fueled by heavy early scoring by Hudson and guard-forward Mitch Dykstra. At intermission, Hudson had 14 points and Dykstra 10.
Three Rivers matched the ‘Cats in the third period and things did get a little dicey. Hudson was whistled for a couple of quick fouls and went to the sidelines with three infractions at the 6:08 mark of the third quarter. It was a good thing the ‘Cats came out firing on all cylinders in the first minute and a half of the second half and had scored six unanswered points to widen the gap to 40-21. DePree Holloway dropped in a couple of easy layups off steals and Nieuwkoop swished a pair of free throws.
Makings things a little more scarey, Three Rivers guard Jalen Heivilin started to make his three-point attempts and Eric Johnson scored on a putback to bring his team to within 11 points, 44-33 with just seconds left in the third period.
Three Rivers put on a full-court press at the start of the fourth quarter, but Hudson re-entered the contest and he, Dykstra and Jake Holtz found ways to beat the press with the greatest of ease. With his team up only 48-36, Hudson came down with a rebound and threw a full-court pass to Dykstra, who laid the ball into the hoop and then fired a TD strike to Nieuwkoop who slam-dunked the basketball. Hudson on the next offensive series nailed a three and suddenly, with 5:40 left in the ballgame, Wayland was ahead by 19 points, 55-36.
Things got even worse for Three Rivers a minute later on a Hudson three and a full-court pass from Nieuwkoop to Hudson for a layup that stretched the margin out to 62-39. Not long afterward, Three Rivers coach Brian Burg told Mike Hudson he soon would be substituting and asked him to call off his big dogs.
Avery Hudson took game scoring honors with 28 points, despite sitting out all but two minutes of the third quarter. Dykstra finished with 12 and Nieuwkoop and Holloway had 10 apiece. It was clearly Holloway’s best performance of the season, and it came at a good time.
Sharpshooting Heivilin netted 20 points for Three Rivers, which finished its season with a 14-8 overall record and a district championship.
PHOTO: (Courtesy of Terry Ellis) Blocking shots made a lot of difference for Wayland in its regional victory over Three Rivers. Doing the dirty deeds here against Hopkins in this account are Zack Nieuwkoop (left) and Carter Nyp.
The rematch of Wyoming Godwin Heights – Wayland would have taken place in the Finals this year as the Wolverines were in the other half of the bracket. The quarter-finals could have an OK Gold feel as Wayland may face off against former Gold foe GR Catholic Central. CC won the OK Blue after this year’s re-alignment and face Spring Lake for the Region 10 hardware. The winner meets Wayland v Benton Harbor next week in Caledonia in the quarters.