Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys' basketball season ends in district tournament loss

Wildcats pull away in second half to eliminate Hawks from Class 2A tournament

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys' basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 54-20 loss to West Lyon in the district tournament. The game was close in the first half, with the Hawks trailing by just one point at halftime, but the Wildcats pulled away in the second half to cruise to the 34-point victory.

Why it matters

The loss ends Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's season, which saw the team finish with a 14-8 record. West Lyon, meanwhile, advances to the district final against Unity Christian.

The details

Defenses dominated the first half, with the Hawks trailing by just 13-12 at one point. But West Lyon took control in the second half, outscoring Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 34-8 over the final two quarters to pull away. The Wildcats' ball movement and ability to force turnovers were key factors in their second-half surge.

  • The game was played on February 19, 2026.
  • West Lyon (11-12) moved on to play Unity Christian in the district final on February 24, 2026.

The players

Jackson Vogt

Led Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn with 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Isaac Schierholz

Finished with 5 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists for the Hawks.

Alex Vogt

Added 4 points for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn.

Naet Hoaglund

Head coach of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn boys' basketball team.

West Lyon

The Wildcats defeated Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn to advance to the district final.

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What they’re saying

“I thought our defense played really well for most of the game. I thought we were really active and forced a lot of tough shots, especially early.”

— Naet Hoaglund, Head coach (Hartley Sentinel)

“Kind of a perfect storm. We had some really bad turnovers that led to layups. West Lyon is good defensively. We did have some good opportunities and some good looks, but couldn't get anything to fall.”

— Naet Hoaglund, Head coach (Hartley Sentinel)

“I thought their ball movement in the second half really had us scrambling. Combine that with not being able to score and we were all out of sorts.”

— Naet Hoaglund, Head coach (Hartley Sentinel)

What’s next

West Lyon will face Unity Christian in the district final on February 24, 2026.

The takeaway

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's strong defensive effort in the first half was not enough to overcome West Lyon's second-half surge, as the Hawks' season came to an end in the district tournament. The loss highlights the importance of maintaining offensive consistency and limiting turnovers against tough opponents.