Wyoming boys basketball team ready for second half of OK Green schedule, playoff stretch drive

Wyoming High School boys basketball coach Thom Vander Klay and the team at a Jan. 31 practice as the Wolves prepare for the second half of their OK Conference Green schedule … and the state tournament. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

The Wyoming High School boys basketball team finished their non-conference schedule with three-straight wins and then went 4-3 in the first half of their grueling OK Conference Green schedule, including a road loss to state power Muskegon.

So as the Wolves (7-5 overall, third in OK conference standings) prepared this week for the beginning of the second half of the OK Green schedule with a road game at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer — 8-4, 5-2 in conference including a hard-fought win over Wyoming on Jan. 7 — Wolves head coach Thom Vander Klay might be pretty happy with where his team stands.

And maybe not …

Wyoming High School boys basketball in action Jan. 21 against Zeeland East. (WKTV)

“Sitting in third was not the objective,” Coach Vander Klay said to WKTV. “We are definitely looking to become more consistent to compete in the (state) tournament. … We look to work to be the best team we can be, which may mean more victories in the second round and in the tournament.”

Despite a pandemic-altered 2020-21 season last year, the Wolves were in top form at tournament time, with a home win over Byron Center and then a tough, 54-52, road loss at East Grand Rapids to finish 7-9 overall.

In the 2019-20 season, the team’s last year in the OK Gold, the Wolves finished 11-1 in conference and 20-2 overall including two wins in the playoffs — before the pandemic stopped the season in the middle of what could have been a deep playoff run.

Now in the Wolves second year in the OK Green, Vander Klay does not see the move as giving his team in tougher schedule, it is just those long roadtrips — to Muskegon and Zeeland — that are a challenge.

Wyoming High School boys basketball coach Thom Vander Klay watches over a Jan. 31 practice as the Wolves prepare for an upcoming game. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

“Not sure the Green is better than the Gold,” Vander Klay said. “We switch leagues every few years so it has been difficult to get rivals but we are getting to know these teams and what they try and do.

“The hardest part is the travel. We seem to have many schools we can play but we are going to the Lakeshore Tuesdays and Fridays.”

In the second half of the OK conference schedule, the Wolves will host four of the seven games, including hosting two teams Wyoming lost to on the road in the first round, Muskegon (currently 10-0, 7-0 OK) on Feb. 11 and Grand Rapids Union on Feb. 22.

Junior dominated team, with senior leaders

Coach Vander Klay said while the Wolves’ current team has only four seniors, seven juniors and no underclassmen, he is feels the squad is “doing really well”, especially senior leaders Ramere Draper (19.5 points per game average), Jaleel Holt (13.3 ppg.) and Jordan Love (9.4 ppg.)

Wyoming High School boys basketball player Quintin Williams prepares for the second half of a Jan. 21 against Zeeland East. (WKTV)

Draper was first team all conference last year, and Love was honorable mention.

One of the juniors making a big impact in the stat sheet with double-figure scoring is Qua’dir Hatchett (10.6 ppg.). But Alyjah Chandler, Bernie Varnesdeel, Eugene Atkins and Quintin Williams are also key contributors.

Andrew Tran is the other senior, while other juniors include Jaden LaFleur and Jameson Lamrouex.