The Glen Lake boys basketball team heads into the 2025-26 season with high hopes.
“It’s surprising how fast it was (becoming a senior),” Glen Lake senior center Jacob Plamondon said. “We’ve been working on conditioning, plays, shooting, and going up and down the floor to start the season. We are building good chemistry and focused on winning games. We want to make it to states, play at the Breslin Center.”
Glen Lake starts the 2025-26 campaign against Reed City on Tuesday (4 p.m.) before hosting Elk Rapids, Dec. 2 (7 p.m.), and traveling to Buckley, Dec. 12 (7 p.m.)
The Lakers had a terrific 2024-25 season, going 23-2, capturing a district championship, before falling to Ishpeming Westwood in the regional final 60-40.
Glen Lake captured the Northwest Conference and is again favored to compete for the title. Onekama finished second, followed by Frankfort in third.
Plamondon, last year’s Dream Team MVP and Grand Valley State University commit, hopes for a big year, improving his game from the outside and inside over the past year. The senior scored his 1,000th point during his junior campaign and has been a solid contributor all four years.
The Lakers have healthy numbers, with four seniors and several underclassmen who will be given vital roles if Glen Lake hopes to succeed.
Offensively, the Lakers have quality shooting returning from beyond the arc and inside the paint.
Glen Lake coach Jason Bradford is focused on getting the Lakers in shape in time for the start of the basketball season.
“We have a lot of things to build off from the summer,” Bradford said. “The identity of our team is that they move the ball well. Very unselfish, hit open shots. But when they get moving … scoring in transition, up the floor, passing the ball.”
Glen Lake guards Gabe Hazelton and Toby Bradford will be expected to pick it up in the backcourt.
“They shouldn’t be rattled at all … Another year under their belt is huge,” Bradford said.
For senior Plamondon, Bradford wants him to lead the team and finish his career on a positive note. He averaged 22.9 points and 12 rebounds per game last season. He scored a career high of 49 points against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
“There is more responsibility on his shoulders; we need to be talking out there. He needs to lead on the floor,” Bradford said.
The Lakers will have to replace several seniors who had production, including Isaac Hlavka, Michael Houtteman, and Benji Allen.
Glen Lake senior Fletcher Middleton is returning to the court after leading the Lakers to a successful football season and the regional title game. Middleton admits basketball conditioning is very different from football conditioning.
“I just wanted to have fun with a great group of guys. I hope to keep pressuring my teammates and keep making them better,” Middleton said.
Other seniors for the Lakers include Breckin Nerg and Kylan Gallagher.
“I can’t believe it’s my senior year. Time went by quick, but I’m happy to be out here on the court,” Nerg said. “Playing as a team is going to be key for us.”
