Central Lake edged by Jo'Burg in fourth-quarter battle

LEWISTON, Mich. — Central Lake’s fourth-quarter lead slipped away Thursday night as Jo’Burg used a late surge to hand the Trojans a 36-33 defeat in a defensive battle marked by foul trouble and turnovers.

After both offenses struggled to find rhythm in the first half, Central Lake (5-2, 3-2 SV) appeared to seize control coming out of the locker room. The Trojans built a 13-9 lead in the third quarter, using active defense and better ball movement to take the lead heading into the final eight minutes. Central Lake’s pressure generated key stops and transition chances, briefly tilting momentum in favor of the Trojans.

The decisive stretch came in the fourth, when foul trouble and miscues proved costly. Central Lake was outscored 15-9 in the final stanza as Jo’Burg (3-3, 3-3 SV) capitalized at the free-throw line and turned Trojan turnovers into points. Each possession down the stretch carried added weight, and despite multiple defensive stands, Central Lake could not convert enough on offense to reclaim the lead.

Joelyssa Hayden led Central Lake with an all-around effort, finishing with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists. Claire Shooks added 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, providing another key defensive presence in the backcourt. Myla Hibbard chipped in 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, contributing timely baskets and energy on the boards. Maleeya Hibbard helped facilitate the offense with 6 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals, while Abby Miller anchored the interior with 7 rebounds to go with 3 points.

Despite the narrow loss, Central Lake showed resilience in a low-scoring contest that turned on a few late possessions. The Trojans’ third-quarter push and multiple standout performances offered positives to build on as Central Lake looks to clean up fouls and turnovers and turn close games into wins in the coming stretch of the season.