The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team is tied for eighth with Grand Rapids Catholic Central this week in the latest Associated Press Class B state-wide poll, one of the last before post-season tournament play begins.

The Wildcats, with a record of 15-3, were rated No. 9 the previous week before defeating Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 66-51 Feb. 14 and Wyoming 74-52 on Friday evening.

Interestingly, Grand Rapids Christian, a team that has defeated Wayland twice this season, is ranked No. 1 in Class A. Coach Mike Hudson’s Wildcats’ only other loss was to another undefeated team, Wyoming Godwin Heights, ranked No. 1 in Class B.

Wayland tonight will travel to East Grand Rapids for another O-K Gold Conference encounter and it will wrap up league play Friday night at home against Forest Hills Eastern. If the ‘Cats win both contests they will finish second in the league behind GR Christian.

Wayland will be at home for its district tournament opener Monday, March 6, against Hopkins.

Class A

School (First-place votes) (Record) Points
1. Grand Rapids Christian (4) (15-0) 74
2. East Lansing (1) (16-0) 71
3. Muskegon (17-0) 63
4. Clarkston (16-1) 62
5. Kalamazoo Central (15-1) 52
6. Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-3) 47
7. Macomb Dakota (15-3) 43
8. Flint Carman-Ainsworth (16-1) 41
9. Holland West Ottawa (16-1) 36
10. Detroit Cass Tech (16-3) 28
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Detroit Martin Luther King (15-3) 21, Detroit East English (13-4) 15.

Class B

School (First-place votes) (Record) Points
1. Wyoming Godwin Heights (3) (17-0) 45
2. River Rouge (16-1) 42
3. New Haven (16-1) 38
4. Frankenmuth (15-1) 35
5. Benton Harbor (16-2) 32
6. Hillsdale (17-0) 31
7. Bridgeport (15-1) 23
T-8. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (14-3) 22
T-8. Wayland Union (15-3) 22
10. Ludington (15-1) 20
Others receiving 12 or more votes: None.

PHOTO: Wayland head coach Mike Hudson (left) and assistant coach Chris Jasinski.