HOWELL — Ellie Laier’s introduction to varsity basketball included a cameo appearance at the Breslin Center in the state semifinals, so there aren’t many moments too big for her to handle.

The Hartland senior certainly wasn’t going to back away from a contested 3-point attempt Tuesday night when she had the chance to slow down a Howell rally.

Rather than pass the ball, work the clock and try to get a higher-percentage shot, Laier drained the 3-pointer from two feet behind the arc with defender Kylie Pung coming her way.

Hartland’s lead was back up to eight points midway through the fourth quarter after Howell got within five. The Highlanders wouldn’t come that close again in a 49-38 loss to Hartland.

“I was ready,” Laier said. “I had been making a lot of my threes in the game. We were only up by five. I knew we could beat them by more than that, so I decided to shoot it and it went in like I thought it would.”

It was one of three 3-pointers for Laier, who scored 14 points.

Now in her second full varsity season, Laier was the only junior varsity player called up two years ago for Hartland’s state tournament run. That run went all the way to the state Division 1 championship game before ending with a loss to West Bloomfield.

In a victory over Wayne Memorial in the state semifinals, Laier played the final 1 minute, 32 seconds and went 1-for-2 from the line on Michigan State University’s home court.

“That was definitely a very cool experience to get to go on the road to the Breslin Center with them,” Laier said. “I can’t wait to see what happens this year.

“I got in a couple times toward the end if we were up by a lot. I got in at the Breslin Center.”

Laier’s confidence was high right from the start after hitting a 3-pointer to open the scoring, giving Hartland a lead it never relinquished. The lead grew to 12 points late in the first half and got as low as four points early in the fourth quarter.

“She’s gonna be one who will take the tough shots when need be and ballhandles and rebounds,” Hartland coach Mike McKay said. “She plays inside a little bit. She’s an all-around very good player, great leader and a great kid to coach.”

‘Roadrunner’ defender

Hartland junior Izzy DePestel was given the difficult assignment of shadowing Howell sophomore Gabby Piepho throughout the game in an effort to deny her the ball.

DePestel held up well in what can be an exhausting task, holding Piepho to three field goals and 11 points. Piepho has had two games of at least 30 points this season.

“It’s fun to stay on her,” DePestel said. “It’s a really competitive matchup. I just know you’ve got to get the job done because it’ll help the team in the long run if she doesn’t score as much as she normally does.

“That’s probably my favorite part of the game, playing defense. I really like when I get to focus in on one girl. It’s fun for me, the competitiveness.”

McKay said DePestel’s soccer background makes her well-suited to chasing around the other team’s top scorer.

“She’s used to running,” McKay said. “In practice, she’s always on the go, always moving. I know she can hold up to the pressure and doesn’t give her a whole lot of space. She’s a smart kid, too, defensively and doesn’t get in foul trouble usually. She’s our roadrunner type of kid who can stick to a team’s best player if need be.”

With Piepho contained, Howell didn’t have another player step up until Alison Farr scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter.

“They were really focusing on Gabs,” Howell coach Jason Piepho said. “They were denying her the whole game, not helping off her. That was a big part of their game plan. We’ve just got to move the ball. We’ve got to get good screens and stay aggressive. I thought at times we got a little passive against their defense.”

Chaos in KLAA West

Both KLAA West co-leaders lost, with Howell falling to Hartland and Salem to Brighton. The result is a five-way tie for first place between Brighton, Canton, Hartland, Howell and Salem at 5-3. Plymouth can make it a six-way tie Wednesday if it beats Novi.

“Crazy, crazy, crazy,” McKay said. “I was talking with Jason earlier; it’s matchups. We match up different ways, different styles. Night in and night out there are good teams.

“It’s fun to coach. Sometimes it’s almost too fun, because you’re down to the wire in the games. It’s just a really solid side of the league. We’re fortunate enough to get some wins in it and we’re looking to build on that.”

Brighton will travel to Hartland at 7 p.m. Friday in a rivalry clash between two of the co-leaders.

“It’s a deep league,” Piepho said. “There’s a lot of talent. Anybody can beat anybody. There’s no off night. It’s just different teams. There are good matchups and there are strong matchups. Every night is a tough night.”

Contact Bill Khan at [email protected]. Follow him on X @BillKhan