WEST BLOOMFIELD >> Over the last three years, everyone has had their eye on West Bloomfield in the Division 1 girls basketball playoffs.

The Lakers reached the state final in each of those years, winning the title in 2022 and 2024, while finishing runner-up in 2023.

It’s understandable then that the Lakers are going to get everyone’s best shot, even if they aren’t quite the same powerhouse they have been in previous seasons.

On Wednesday night, West Bloomfield found that out quickly when it got all it could handle from a game Lakeland squad.

The Lakers trailed 40-38 entering the fourth quarter, but managed to show a championship poise that’s been ingrained in the program to pick up a 54-46 victory.

“People might think that we have an experienced team, but we are replacing five seniors that were top-notch players. So, we have a team that is still finding its way,” West Bloomfield coach Darrin McAllister said. “We are making strides. Today was a big step. People may say we’ve been here before, but these girls haven’t, so this was a big step for them.”

West Bloomfield (15-8) looked like it might be able to establish itself early, as its defensive pressure and length kept Lakeland out of the paint and struggling to find open looks at the basket. The Lakers led 19-11 after the first quarter, but Lakeland started to turn the tide thanks to their outside shooting.

The Eagles hit six 3-pointers in the first half, which spurred on a comeback and a 27-25 advantage at the break.

“We have good shooters,” Lakeland coach Michael Leitheim said. “It’s hard to scout us because we have a lot of girls that can score. I think after a few minutes, (West Bloomfield) knew they had a game on their hands.”

Lakeland had an answer for everything West Bloomfield did in the third as well, as Leitheim knew his team had the potential to get past the Lakers.

“We came here expecting to win. We didn’t see ourselves as the next step for West Bloomfield on their journey,” he said. “We’re a very good basketball program and we have a tremendous group of seniors. They are winners and we came to win. We competed for 32 minutes.”

In the fourth, fighting off the constant pressure from West Bloomfield look like it tired out the Eagles. Lakeland was having long possessions without being able to find the basket. They went over four minutes without a score, while allowed the Lakers to go on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good.

Senior Ava Lord was key in the final frame for West Bloomfield, as she had 10 points to spark the win.

“Ava is one of the experienced seniors we have and she stepped up for us,” McAllister said of Lord. “She’s having to be a leader for us this year and it was good to see her rise to the occasion in a big moment.”

Lord finished with 18 points in the game to lead West Bloomfield, while Samiya McPherson had 15 points, and Breanna Gamble-Jones and Londyn Hall each had eight.

Lakeland was led by Aubrin Miller, who had 22 points, while Claire Linen scored 10.

The Eagles finish the season at 16-7 with a Lakes Valley Conference title. They will graduate six seniors from the team.

“It was a fantastic season. We’re back-to-back league champs for the first time in program history and 26-4 over the last two years in our league,” Leitheim said. “Our seniors are leaving a legacy behind that no other group has done. We’re not going anywhere (as a program). We’re not rebuilding, we’re going to add to what we’ve been doing.”

West Bloomfield advances to today’s district final on its home floor, where it will face Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. The Eaglets bested Walled Lake Northern, 70-32, in the other semifinal.

“We had a brutal schedule and that prepared us for what’s to come. (Today’s) game is nothing that we haven’t seen and we aren’t prepared for,” McAllister said of the final with OLSM. “We just have to get back to practice, watch film, and be ready for another tough game (today).”

Today’s district final will tip at 6 p.m.