Short-handed Central Lake grinds out 39-32 district semifinal win over rival Bellaire

Short-handed but resilient, Central Lake rallied past rival Bellaire 39-32 on Thursday night in a Division 4 district semifinal at Bellaire, seizing control with a dominant fourth quarter to advance to the district championship.

The Trojans, now 12-8, trailed after the first quarter and saw an eight-point third-quarter lead disappear before responding with a decisive final stretch. Central Lake outscored Bellaire 12-3 in the fourth quarter, clamping down defensively and executing in the half-court to close out the Eagles and end Bellaire’s season at 14-8.

Senior standout Joelyssa Hayden powered Central Lake with a near double-double, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Her scoring presence kept the Trojans steady during Bellaire’s early surge and again when the Eagles mounted their response in the third quarter. Hayden’s work on the glass also limited Bellaire’s second-chance opportunities as the game tightened late.

Central Lake’s supporting cast delivered key production at both ends. Maleeya Hibbard added 12 points, along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, providing needed perimeter scoring and defensive pressure. Abby Miller contributed six points and six rebounds in the paint, while Myla Hibbard filled the stat sheet with four points, five rebounds, five steals, and two assists, helping spark the Trojans’ late-game defensive surge.

Bellaire opened strong, taking a 13-7 lead after the first quarter before Central Lake answered with its own push. The Trojans flipped the momentum in the second, outscoring the Eagles 14-6 to take a narrow 21-19 edge into halftime. After the break, Central Lake built an eight-point cushion in the third quarter, only to see Bellaire erase the advantage and reclaim momentum heading into the final eight minutes.

Despite being short-handed due to injuries and illness, Central Lake controlled the fourth quarter behind its defense. The Trojans held Bellaire to just three points over the final frame, turning stops into scoring opportunities and maintaining composure at both ends as they closed out the 39-32 victory.

Central Lake advances to face Buckley (19-4) in the district final Friday night at 7 p.m. in Bellaire. With a full roster expected for the championship matchup, the Trojans will look to build on Thursday’s gritty performance and carry their late-game toughness into the title game.