A Tuesday night nonleague basketball game against neighboring Byron Center turned out to be warmup for a busy week for Wayland.
The Wildcats defeated the visiting quintet with very little difficulty and they were able to prove they seem to have put that flu bug past them from the previous Friday night, when they huffed and puffed to the finish line in a 65-53 win over Forest Hills Eastern.
This one Tuesday was decided early, as the ‘Cats shot out to a 10-0 in the first two and a half minutes and never were threatened for the remainder of the night. Coach Mike Hudson emptied his bench midway in the third quarter and the two teams played more than 10½ minutes with a running clock.
When it was over, Wayland was on the long end of a 67-33 score.
The Wildcats’ signature full-court pressure, dropping into a zone, meant the Bulldogs just couldn’t get off a decent shot.
Junior Carter Nyp nailed a couple of threes and 6-7 center Zack Nieuwkoop and Jake Holtz each added a layup to spark that opening 10-0 run. The ‘Cats remained up by double figures, 21-10, at the close of the first period and they pulled away to a lead that swelled to as many as 22 points just before haltime.
Things really deteriorated for Byron Center in the third quarter when top scorer Brayden Smith fouled out with just five points. The Bulldogs managed to score just four points in the entire third period and the running clock was fired up at 2:40 while Wayland was ahead by 40, 61-21.
By that time, Hudson already was giving his starters a rest for the rest of the evening.
Despite only playing a little more than half a ballgame, Nieuwkoop pumped in 19 points and came up with numerous blocked shots. Mitchell Dykstra added 16 and senior point guard Avery Hudson had 14 to go along with numerous steals and a surprising number of rebounds.
Caleb Kuipers was the only Bulldog to score in double figures, with 11 points.
The Wildcats will start the second round of O-K Gold Conference play Friday night at Grand Rapids South Christian. They are in second place with a 5-1 record and they are 9-2 overall.
Wayland will be play Detroit Cornerstone at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Rapids Union Redhawk Showcase.
The Wildcats are tied for the No. 7 slot with Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the latest Class B state-wide poll. Their only losses this season are by two points to Wyoming Godwin Heights, 12-0 and No. 1 in the Class B poll, and Grand Rapids Christian, No. 2 in the Class A poll.
PHOTO: Carter Nyp swished two three-point goals in the first two minutes, but didn’t score the rest of the ballgame Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Kenny Ritz)
