Central Lake pushes No. 6 Inland Lakes to overtime in 46-44 defeat

Central Lake came up just short in a statement effort Friday night, falling 46-44 in overtime to sixth-ranked and undefeated Inland Lakes in a Ski-Valley Conference matchup in Central Lake.

The Lady Trojans went toe-to-toe with one of Division 4’s top teams in a game that swung back and forth throughout regulation. Inland Lakes led 11-8 after the first quarter, but Central Lake tightened up defensively in the second, outscoring the Bulldogs 9-8 to trim the deficit to 19-17 at halftime.

Central Lake seized momentum out of the break, putting together its best stretch of the night in the third quarter. The Trojans outscored Inland Lakes 12-6 in the frame, turning the two-point halftime deficit into a 29-25 lead heading to the fourth. The advantage did not come easily, as Central Lake dealt with foul trouble much of the night while still finding ways to generate offense and disrupt Inland Lakes’ rhythm.

Inland Lakes answered in the fourth quarter, clawing back with an 11-7 edge to pull even at the end of regulation and force overtime. Central Lake’s struggles at the free throw line loomed large in the closing minutes, as missed opportunities at the stripe left the door open for the Bulldogs, who capitalized enough to extend the game.

Overtime mirrored the rest of the night, with both teams trading baskets in a tight, tense finish. Inland Lakes did just enough to escape with a 10-8 advantage in the extra period, preserving its undefeated record and top billing in the Ski-Valley Conference, while Central Lake’s 44-point effort underscored its ability to compete with one of the state’s elite Division 4 programs.

Joelyssa Hayden led the Trojans with an all-around performance, totaling 15 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists. Myla Hibbard added 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and four assists, giving Central Lake a steady backcourt presence. Maleeya Hibbard provided another key spark with 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists, impacting both ends of the floor.

Abby Miller chipped in four points and five rebounds, while Claire Shooks added one point and five rebounds as Central Lake battled on the glass against the ranked Bulldogs. Despite the loss, the Trojans’ effort in pushing Inland Lakes to overtime, while managing foul trouble and free throw woes, signaled a strong showing and a performance the team can build on moving deeper into conference play.