South Lyon East soars to first district title since 2015
Members of South Lyon East’s girls basketball team pose with the MHSAA District championship trophy following Friday’s 52-45 victory over Northville.
South Lyon East — a team with no true “bigs” but plenty of backcourt firepower — earned its biggest victory in over a decade Friday night against Northville.
Pounding the glass with the ferocity of hungry lions going after a sirloin steak, the Cougars held off a late Mustang rally to win their first MHSAA District championship since 2015, 52-45.
Offensive rebounding was the calling card for East, which got multiple looks at the hoop on several possessions thanks to a relentless effort to hunt down missed shots.
Near-perfect season
Now 22-1, the Cougars head to Northville High School Monday for a 5:30 p.m. regional semifinal showdown against Saline. Howell and Belleville will face off in Monday’s 7 p.m. game.
“All season we’ve found a way … they just survive,” said East Head Coach Robert Leadley. “Our best players get in foul trouble early, but we still find a way. They play for the moment and the chemistry between them is hard to describe.”
Leadley said there were “hints” heading into the season that this 2025-26 team would be special.
“Getting Mack Reid was big for us,” Leadley said of his junior guard. “She’s a skilled player who understands the game well. Everybody rebounds, too. Even Kaitlyn Therrian, whose 5-2 on a good day, was in there fighting for rebounds.”
Lake cool under pressure
East’s game-changer was senior Nyla Lake, who scored a game-high 23 points — seven coming from the free throw line down the stretch.
“Nyla is a great competitor,” Leadley noted. “When the moment is big, she steps up.”
Northville was led by the potent junior one-two punch of Sophia Fraas (15 points) and Peyton Sivier (13). Sivier’s driving layup with 3:52 left put the Mustangs up, 41-40; however, a put-back by Lake seconds later gave the host Eagles a 42-41 advantage.
Sivier countered with another left-handed drive with 2:35 remaining to help Northville regain a 1-point edge.
Defense, free-throw shooting seal win
Three straight defensive stops by East and three productive trips to the free-throw line by Lake gave the Cougars the lead for good, 46-43, with 1:18 to go.
SLE freshman guard Riley Moyer connected on three long threes on the way to a 10-point night.
East’s biggest lead was 23-13 when Brooke Moyer netted her only bucket with 3:25 on the first-half clock.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
