Ypsilanti, MI. – On Friday night the Grass Lake Warriors entered the swamp of the Ypsilanti Arbor Prep Gators for a big match-up between two of the top division 3 teams in the state of Michigan. The Gators started off strong from a pair of deep 3’s made by 4 star Junior guard Mya Petticord. But the Warriors answered back in a back and forth battle throughout the first half with the Gators going into the half with a one-point lead.
The Warriors came out strong and they owned the Gators in the third quarter going on a 10-1 run and the Gators never could close within 5 the rest of the way as hard as they tried. The Warriors were able to force many turnovers and force bad shots as they finished the game hitting their shots from the charity stripe for a huge 80-69 victory.
It was the first time the Gators had ever had an opponent put 80 points on them since the team’s inception in 2011. it was the first real test of the season for both teams, who are contenders for the state championship and bolster talented rosters. Not only was it a battle of two of the state’s top Division 3 teams, but it also featured two of the nation’s best juniors in Grass Lake’s Lexus Bargesser and Arbor Prep’s Petticord. Both players are ranked in the top 60 of ESPN’s 2022 rankings and both have multiple Division I offers from Power Five programs.
Bargesser led the Warriors with 25 points, with Grand Valley State commit Abie Cabana adding 17 points and Amber Boomer scoring 16 and Gabrielle Lutchka picked up 15
Petticord, who has over 20 Division 1 college offers from powerhouse teams like Ohio State and Mississippi, led the way for the Gators with 25 points, while Austin Peay State commit Kaiden Glenn added 11 points and Kyra Lawrence finished with 9.
The Gators look to get back on the winning track Tuesday night as they travel to Allen Park for a 6 p.m. tip off. Grass Lake travels Friday to Cascades foe Manchester.
