Fourth-quarter surge sends Central Lake to road loss at Mancelona

A decisive fourth-quarter run and a momentum-swinging technical foul proved costly for Central Lake on Wednesday night, as the Trojans fell 54-47 at Mancelona in conference girls basketball action.

Central Lake carried a 38-34 lead into the fourth quarter, but Mancelona erupted for a 22-9 advantage over the final eight minutes to take control late. The Trojans dropped to 6-5 overall and 4-5 in conference play with the loss, despite leading after both the second and third quarters.

The game opened tightly, with Mancelona edging ahead 13-11 after the first quarter. Central Lake responded in the second, outscoring the hosts 16-13 to take a 27-26 lead into halftime. The Trojans’ defense tightened even more in the third quarter, holding Mancelona to just six points while adding 11 of their own to build what appeared to be a promising 38-32 cushion before foul trouble and turnovers shifted the momentum.

A critical technical foul against Central Lake in the third quarter became a turning point. Mancelona capitalized at the free-throw line and on the ensuing possessions, while the Trojans were forced to finish the game without one of their top players. That absence, combined with mounting foul trouble and miscues, opened the door for Mancelona’s 22-point fourth quarter that erased Central Lake’s lead and flipped the outcome.

Abby Miller led Central Lake with an all-around performance, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and three blocks as she impacted both ends of the floor. Myla Hibbard added 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Maleeya Hibbard matched her with 10 points, six rebounds, two steals, and three assists to anchor the Trojans’ perimeter attack.

Joelyssa Hayden contributed six points, six rebounds, and three assists, helping Central Lake control stretches of the glass and tempo through the middle quarters. Aspen Evans chipped in five points, and Claire Shooks added five points, two steals, and three assists, giving the Trojans balanced scoring and active guard play for much of the night before Mancelona’s late surge.

Despite the setback, Central Lake showed it can build and protect leads against conference opponents for long stretches. Cleaning up turnovers and managing foul situations will be key focal points as the Trojans look to turn competitive efforts like Tuesday’s into sustained, four-quarter finishes in the games ahead.