East Lansing, MI. – The Maple City Glen Lake Lakers came into the Breslin Center in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 3 basketball championship with a 25-0 record and took an early lead against the top-ranked team, the Ypsilanti Arbor Prep Gators. After a tough back and forth first quarter the Gators held a 14-12 edge. The Gator’s hardcore defense forced many turnovers but unfortunately, they were unable to convert as usual, and they were not sinking free throws as much as normal, and going into the half they held a 26-21 lead.
The Lakers came back and closed within 2 points but just like in the quarterfinals game against Dansville Taylor Wallace hit back-to-back three-point shots and the Lakers never came within double-digits again the rest of the way.
The Gators forced 21 turnovers in the game and were led in scoring by Mya Petticord who finished with 20 points, Kari Woods (10 points), Stacy Utomi (eight points, 11 rebounds), and Taylor Wallace (eight points off the bench).
Laker senior forward Grace Bradford led Glen Lake with 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Ruby Hogan chipped in with 10 points as the Lakers were making their third semifinal appearance in school history.
Arbor Prep will be heading to the state finals for the fourth time in school history and captured the state title in 2016 and will be tipping off at 4 p.m. against Kent City which is 26-0 on the season and defeated Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
