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Although the game started out well for Forest Area after Tyler Denike knocked down a three-pointer to set the Trojans on their heels, turnovers began plaguing them.Ê Trojan Alex Scott was a steal artist for most of the game, taking two steals coast-to-coast for easy lay-ins in the first quarter.

After Central Lake jumped out to a 15-9 lead, Denike again nailed a three in transition to pull the Warriors to within three, 15-12.Ê The Trojans ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run, putting the score at 22-14 with three quarters left to play.

A score from Central LakeÕs Zach Light and two more steals from Scott in the first two minutes of the quarter, the Trojans stretched their lead to 26-16.Ê After Greg Kinney dropped in a three to make the score 29-21 midway through the second quarter, the Warriors were stunted offensively.Ê They didnÕt score another point the rest of the half and walked into the locker rooms down, 21-37.

After attempting to regroup from a poor shooting first half, the Warriors were met with an immediate jump shot from Central LakeÕs Ryan Crawley to add to their lead.Ê Jeremiah Stocker responded with two of his own to make the score 39-23, Central Lake.Ê Light again added to his teamÕs lead and his strong personal scoring game with a layup down low in front of two Forest Area defenders.Ê

Another bucket from Light made the score 45-26.Ê Bob Hatfield gave the Warriors a spark with a three-point play, followed by a 17-foot jump shot from Tyler Lane.Ê The buckets cut the score to 47-28.Ê Hatfield knocked down another shot and Denike drilled a three to move the Warriors closer, but Scott responded with a three-point play of his own to end the quarter with the Trojans up, 52-33.

Forest Area was again harried by an inability to stop opening-quarter surges, as the Trojans scored eight straight points to open up their lead to 27, 60-33.Ê Zach Roys and Denike exchanged back-to-back buckets, but time was closing in on the struggling Warriors.Ê Denike scored seven points in a row near the end to make the score respectable, but Central Lake was draining their free throws down the stretch to shut the door.Ê Stocker scored a two at the buzzer to make it a 20-point game, 66-46. Denike finished the game with 20 points for the Warriors.

On Friday, Forest Area was off to Gaylord St. MaryÕs for a Ski Valley Conference matchup.

The improved Snowbirds gave the Warriors more than they could handle. Alvin Sitkviewicz scored 23 points and helped propel his team to a 55-44 victory over Forest Area.

Zach Roys recorded 10 points for the Warriors.