John Zuluaga-Torres made an impact on the Lakeview Wildcats Monday night. The sophomore guard scored 14 points to lead the Wildcats to a 55-35 win over the Hesperia Panthers.

The Lakeview Wildcats girls basketball team did not allow a slow start to alter its game plan. The game plan, as it has been most of the season, is to play solid defense. The defense did its job, now the Wildcats just need the offense to fall in line.

Undefeated basketball teams typically see the best efforts from their opponents. That’s something the Big Rapids Cardinals (10-0, 9-0) are well aware of and for three quarters on Monday night, the Lakeview Wildcats looked like they could become the Cardinals’ first blemish.

Rivalry basketball games are intense and usually physical. That’s expected. Such was the case Tuesday night in Stanton as the Lakeview Wildcats (6-3, 4-3) earned a hard fought, foul-riddled game over rival Central Montcalm 50-31 in a CSAA matchup.

Shawn Lindsey had a night to remember Monday night. The Lakeview junior scored 22 points to lead the Wildcats to a 52-34 win over the Central Montcalm Green Hornets.

Good basketball teams have multiple players step up when needed to help win ballgames. On Monday night, the Lakeview Wildcats — with its leading scorer in foul trouble — had such a game, with multiple players leading the way in a 64-47 nonleague win over Chippewa Hills at Cook Gymnasium.

Boys basketball season is underway, but Montabella would have liked to have waited a few days. The Mustangs made only 11 field goals against Lakeview Monday night to lose 60-37 in the season opener for both teams.

With a little more than a week before the boys high school basketball season begins, one thing is for certain, the Lakeview Wildcats will feature a very young team. With just two returning seniors, it’s very possible the Wildcats could have not one, not two, but three sophomores in the starting lineup this season.

The Lakeview Wildcats girls basketball program is always in contention for league and district titles. Those again, are the expectations for this coming season. The Wildcats went 14-8 a year ago. Their season ended with a 53-29 loss to eventual district champion Sparta Spartans.

Lakeview’s soccer team had the same amount of wins last season as they did this season. But that’s a bit deceiving, said coach Chris Smith.