Golden Eagles Fall Short In Regional Semifinal

Zoie Bamm (34) goes up for a tough shot inside the paint. Photo by Andy Hawley, JTV Sports.

By David Rice | JTV Sports

Tuesday February 7th 2023

What looked like a potential big ending or even overtime, turned into a pull away win for Ypsilanti Arbor Prep on Tuesday night.

Arbor Prep started out hot, scoring 7 points early, making it 7-2 with 6:24 left. Ava Lyke and Zoie Bamm scored for the Golden Eagles in the opening quarter. Gator offense finished the opening quarter outscoring CC 8-3 in the final 3 minutes. 

After the opening quarter, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep leads 15-7.

Columbia Central cut it back to a 4-point game early in Q2, thanks to baskets from Kolie Brown and Zoie Bamm. Freshman Jaylen Lambka hit one of her 4 three-pointers in this quarter, in addition to another 3 from Anna McCollum. 

After trading baskets, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep leads by 8 again, 25-17. 

The third quarter remained back and forth in leads, with Stacy Utomi making it a 10-point lead for A.P. with 5:01 left. Followed by two from Bamm to make it 8-point game. Just minutes later, Freshman Jaylen Lambka hit 3 three-pointers in a row to make it a 4-point game. Stacy Utomi kept the lead pulling away for the Gators.

After 3 quarters, Arbor Prep leads 39-32.

The fourth quarter was exciting for both teams, especially Columbia as they made this a nailbiter in the final minutes. 

4 points from Bamm made it 39-36 with 6:26 left. Then, Angela Meggison scored to make it back to a 5-point lead, followed by a steal and score from Taylor Wallace.

Columbia’s young players continued to step up, Freshman Cecelia Slat made it 43-40 with 3:29 left. Zoie Bamm scored 2 more to make it a 1-point game, still down 43-42 with 2:05 left.

Unfortunately, Arbor Prep ran away with it in the final 2 minutes. Taylor Wallace scored 5 points in a minute to make it a 6-point lead with 45 seconds left.

Ypsilanti Arbor Prep pulled it out on Tuesday night at Concord High School, winning 50-42. Zoie Bamm scored 20 to lead Columbia Central and Taylor Wallace scored 16 for Arbor Prep.