Lakeland Falls Short in KLAA Semifinals 32-28

Lakeland fought back from a 13-point deficit and had opportunities to win in the fourth quarter in a KLAA Tournament semifinal against visiting Hartland, but after tying the game with less than four minutes remaining, the Lakeland Eagles simply could not buy a basket down the stretch.

Hartland senior Bailee Maggert scored two huge buckets in the closing minutes to preserve a 32-28 Hartland victory. 

The win sends Hartland to a third game with Grand Blanc this season for a KLAA North title. Lakeland (14-4) will match up for a third time against rival Waterford Kettering in the consolation. 

“The one thing we want to do to win these games is do a better job of finishing and finding ways to score down the stretch,” senior Stephanie Lock said after the loss. “We did a great job coming back, but all of our losses have come against great teams that play strong defense.” 

It seemed early as if Hartland (17-1) would win the game in a blowout. Hartland led 10-2 after the first quarter and 16-5 at halftime, allowing absolutely no open looks to Lakeland in the first half. 

The Eagles regrouped in the locker room after a first half that Lock described as “us playing tense.” The senior scored 17 points, 14 of which came in the second half on an assortment of post moves, baby hooks and offensive putbacks – none of the points came easy, especially after she caught an inadvertent elbow from a Hartland player at the end of the third quarter. 

“That motivated me, and I think it motivated my teammates as well,” Lock said. 

Lakeland scored the first 4 points of the second half before eventually cutting the Hartland lead to 22-16. That’s when a controversial technical foul was called on Maggert, which turned into a 4-point play on the other end. As Lakeland fought its way back, it finally started to get more of the loose balls and rebounds that seemed to elude it in the first 16 minutes. 

“I thought we definitely played harder and had more spring in our step in the second half, said Lakeland head coach Mike Head. “We needed to do things better, like box out and handle screens. We adjusted to their (switching) on defense.” 

Lock scored on a lefty scoop with less than four minutes to play, finally bringing Lakeland all the way back into a 23-all tie. But Maggert scored on difficult layups in the next two possessions, laying up the ball at a weird angle through a mass of Lakeland outstretched arms. 

“She just took the game over offensively at that point,” said Hartland head coach Don Palmer. “It’s good that she was willing to take those shots because we struggled.” 

Jessica Haren hit a late 3-pointer for Lakeland to cut the Hartland lead back to 3, and missed free throws in the final 40 seconds gave Lakeland a chance. Rose Deren had an open 3 with 15 seconds remaining that just bounced off the rim for Lakeland’s last opportunity to tie. 

Maggert scored 8 points for Hartland and was the difference in setting the tempo with her ball handling and penetration in the first half, then down the stretch in the second half. As always, she admitted after the game that she expects a lot of herself. 

“I felt like I didn’t do much offensively earlier in the game, so I wanted to have the ball in my hands,” she said. “We usually like to slow it down when we have the lead, but (once Lakeland tied it) I was looking for my shot.” 

The second half turned into a physical game with bodies falling and players scrapping. Six offensive fouls were called in the third quarter alone. But in the end, Lakeland simply didn’t get enough scoring from someone other than Lock. 

“We need that second or third player to step up and give us three, four or five field goals here or there,” Head said. “The girls are really trying and playing their hearts out.  I was proud of how they came back.” 

Hartland dressed only nine players for the game and was missing three players, who began the season as starters, with an assortment of injuries. None of them are expected back any time soon, Palmer said.