December 9, 2025

Lapeer turns up the pressure, claims season-opening win over North Branch

The Lapeer Lightning opened their season with a hard-fought 37–32 win over visiting North Branch on Tuesday night, showcasing stretches of disruptive defense and timely execution in front of their home crowd.

The Lightning started the night by weathering some early trading of baskets, trailing 8–6 after the first quarter as both teams settled into the pace and physicality of the opener. Despite the early deficit, Lapeer stayed composed and began to dictate the tempo late in the second quarter. Down 14–10, the Lightning pieced together a confident run—stringing stops together, attacking the paint, and generating quality possessions—to close the half with a 17–14 lead.

That spark carried directly into the third quarter, where Lapeer played its strongest and most connected stretch of the night. The Lightning ramped up their defensive pressure, forcing rushed decisions, disrupting passing angles, and turning North Branch miscues into transition opportunities. Powered by that energy, Lapeer outscored the Broncos 13–6 in the frame to build a 30–20 advantage heading into the fourth.

Senior center Jayla Holiday led Lapeer with nine points, delivering several timely baskets that halted surges and settled momentum. Junior Alex Obidos added six points while anchoring key defensive stretches, applying pressure on the perimeter and generating turnovers that shifted the game’s rhythm. Senior Lilly Norman contributed six points on two timely three-pointers, stretching the floor at critical moments while grabbing five of her six rebounds on the defensive end.

Sophomore Taylor Morris also had a strong presence on the glass, mirroring Norman's six rebounds but pulling down five of her rebounds on the offensive end, helping Lapeer extend possessions and control the tempo. Senior Madison White, despite battling foul trouble, finished with four assists and three steals. Senior Alana Kosmak contributed another three steals along with timely rebounds, helping Lapeer maintain its defensive intensity throughout the night.

North Branch mounted a final push in the fourth quarter, led by freshman Sydney Bailey, who scored six of her nine points in the final eight minutes as the Broncos extended pressure and tightened the margin. But Lapeer responded with poise, leaning on its defense once more to close out the win.

In the end, North Branch senior Aubree Deshetsky finished with a game-high 13 points, including a 5-for-7 performance at the free-throw line. Her effort helped fuel the Broncos’ competitiveness throughout the night, but Lapeer’s third-quarter surge and defensive consistency proved to be the difference.

The 37–32 victory marks an exciting start for a seasoned Lightning roster—one that used toughness, balance, and activity on both ends to secure an opening-night win.