WHITE LAKE >> Lakeland pulled out a 35-32 win over the South Lyon Tuesday night to move into a tie with the Lions atop the Lakes Valley Conference standings.

Trailing 17-16 early in the third quarter, Lakeland reeled off eight straight points to take a 24-17 lead. It was a decisive run in a game where both offenses struggled thanks to both team’s defenses contesting a majority of looks throughout the night.

“I think both teams are good defensive teams in the LVC, and I think that showed. Nobody really had a great game, so that’s probably a credit to both teams,” Lions head coach Chris Schroudt said.

Lakeland was able to maintain its lead by consistently driving the lane and getting to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. The Eagles made just one field goal in the final quarter, but went 7-for-14 from the stripe, including a clutch 6-for-6 from Aubrin Miller to help Lakeland close the game out in the final minute.

“Aubrin was clutch at the line as usual for us. We’ve got to get her the ball, and she wants the ball,” Eagles head coach Mike Leitheim said. “Everyone knows where it’s going. They knew where it was going, and she still took care of business.”

Overall, the Eagles made 14-of-28 free throws, while South Lyon got to the line just four times but made all its attempts. That scoring edge from the line, though, proved the difference in a close game.

“When we played at their place earlier in the year, we were down 12-0 and we were just passing the ball around, not looking to shoot,” Leitheim said. “Our goal the last couple of practices was to get downhill. If we don’t make them, we’re going to continue to do it until we get foul calls and make some of those.”

Isabelle Nooe led all scorers with 19 points for South Lyon. But the Lions couldn’t get anyone else going most of the night. South Lyon scored 17 points in the second half, and Nooe scored all but two of those points and assisted on the only basket she didn’t score.

“I thought we had opportunities. I was happy with the way our offense went. Unfortunately, we just didn’t’ finish well enough,” Schroudt said.

Sarah Nelson added eight points for the Lions, including a pair of early 3-pointers to help South Lyon to an 8-5 lead after the first quarter.

The Lions led for most of the first half, but could not pull away and eventually Lakeland caught them just before halftime. A free throw from Miller with 15 seconds to play before the break gave Lakeland a slim 16-15 lead midway through.

Miller led the Eagles with 15 points. Claire Liken had seven points off the bench for the Eagles, and Brynn Taliercio added six points and eight rebounds.

Both teams are now 10-2 in the conference with two conference games remaining. Lakeland and South Lyon East split the league crown last season at 14-2, while the Lions finished a game behind.

The Eagles (12-5 overall) host Waterford United on Thursday as they continue league play.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a group. They just bought into what we had to do to get this win,” Leitheim said.

South Lyon (15-2 overall) has a pair of non-league games coming up, including a home game against Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest on Wednesday, before they resume conference play with a home game against Walled Lake Western in two weeks.