The Wayland boys’ varsity ba
sketball team seemed to take its recent frustrations out on Zeeland West in a nonleague basketball game Friday night.
The Wildcats, fresh from a horribly disappointing loss to Class A powerhouse Grand Rapids Christian Tuesday, were unmerciful in their 61-24 hammering of the visiting Dux.
The game was only 16 seconds old when 6-7 center Zack Nieuwkoop took the ball to the hoop and got a three-point play. The ‘Cats were off and running, literally, and they were in command of a 12-0 cushion midway in the first quarter when Zeeland sophomore Mason Bakker finally scored his team’s first two points.
Wayland was enjoying a 17-2 cushion at the end of the opening period and they turned it all into a blowout, 35-8 at halftime.
The Dux failed to score double figures in points in all of the first three quarters and they were looking at an embarrassing 50-11 deficit at the start of the final eight minutes, before Wildcat coach Mike Hudson took pity and emptied his bench. Much of that fourth stanza was played with a running clock.
The ‘Cats were running and gunning at will throughout those first 24 minutes and Zeeland West simply did not have an answer. One of the visiting fans called the experience humbling.
Senior point guard Avery Hudson, who was essentially contained by GR Christian Tuesday, was all over the place, scoring 17 points on threes and a lot of steals and layups before he retired to the bench for the evening in less than three quarters of play. Junior Carter Nyp and senior Mitchell Dykstra both counted 10 points and Nieuwkoop made an early exit with ice put on his shoulder and he had a season-low seven points, all in the first half.
Bakker’s six points led the Dux, who also had only one three all night, by Brady Gulker, the only points they scored as a team in the entire third quarter.
Wayland pushed its overall season record to 5-2 with the blowout. It is 1-1 in the O-K Gold Conference.
Zeeland West sank to 2-6 with the defeat.
PHOTO: Selected Duke and Dutchess for the annual Snowcoming festivities at Friday night’s ballgame were Josiah Buggs and Ashlynn Schafer.
