Huge Second-Half Run Propels Central Lake Past East Jordan, 51-22

East Jordan, Mich. — A dominant third-quarter surge turned a tight game into a rout as Central Lake used a 19-0 run out of halftime to pull away for a 51-22 road win over East Jordan on Friday night.

The Trojans trailed 19-18 at the break after a back-and-forth first half, but completely flipped the game with suffocating defense and efficient offense in the second half. Central Lake limited East Jordan to just two points in the third quarter and two more in the fourth, outscoring the hosts 34-4 after halftime.

Central Lake opened with a narrow edge, leading 9-7 after the first quarter, before East Jordan answered in the second. The hosts outscored the Trojans 11-8 in the frame to take a 19-18 lead into halftime, setting up what appeared to be a tight finish. Instead, Central Lake came out of the locker room with a decisive response, stringing together a 19-0 run in the third quarter that broke the game open and shifted all of the momentum.

Offensively, Myla Hibbard powered the Trojans with a game-high 21 points to go with 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists, consistently sparking Central Lake’s attack. Joelyssa Hayden provided strong support with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, giving the Trojans a reliable presence on both ends of the floor. Maleeya Hibbard added 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, helping facilitate the offense during the game-changing third-quarter stretch.

Central Lake also received key contributions across the lineup. Aspen Evans chipped in 4 points, while Claire Shooks filled the stat sheet with 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 assists, impacting multiple phases of the game. Abby Miller anchored the interior defensively, finishing with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block as the Trojans locked down East Jordan over the final 16 minutes.

The Trojans outscored East Jordan 19-2 in the third quarter and 15-2 in the fourth, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a 29-point victory. The performance highlighted Central Lake’s ability to adjust at halftime, respond to adversity and close out a game with sustained defensive pressure and balanced scoring across the roster.

With the 51-22 win, Central Lake demonstrated a strong template for success built on second-half adjustments, on-ball pressure and contributions from multiple players, a combination that should serve the Trojans well as they move deeper into their schedule.