With just one returning starter from a team that reached the D3 regionals in 2025, many expected the Stockbridge varsity boys’ basketball team to have a rebuilding season in 2025/26 and they could not have been more wrong.

A strong group of incoming freshmen and has mixed well with three returners from last years varsity team and started the new season with sev straight wins, including going 3-0 to start Big 8 conference play.

Coach Nate Lott returns just one starter in Noah Sandecki and has started his own version of the 1990’s Michigan Fab Five with four freshmen starting throughout the first six game with five being on the court at one time as well.

The young Panthers opened the season with a 65-35 thrashing of Dansville December 3.

Stockbridge started slowly, leading the Aggies just 8-6 after one period before they started heating up in the second with a 16-8 run for a 24-14 halftime lead.

Dansville kept things close in the third with the Panthers leading 36-25 heading to the fourth, when Stockbridge exploded for 29 points to pull away for the thirty-point win.

Freshman Jonathan (Jay) Crow led the Panthers with 18 points, while Sandecki finished with 14.

Freshmen Remington Christie chipped in with 12 and Bradley Buddenborg added nine points. Evan Lockhart finished with four points and Tucker Lott three. Brendon Cordero chipped in with three points and Koen Griffith two.

Crow led the team in rebounds with nine, while Buddenborg had eight, and Christie seven. Sandecki dished out five assists and Crow led the team with five steals.

Vandercook Lake

The Panthers did not let up in their second game with a 69-26 rout of Vandercook Lake.

Stockbridge put four scorers in double figures with Buddenborg leading the way with 14 points.

Sandecki collected a double-double of 12 points and ten steals, while Kam Gross had 11, and Crow ten.

Cordero added seven points, Lockhart five points and six rebounds, Lott four points, Brandon Hamlett three points, Christie two, and Griffith one point and eight rebounds.

Maple Valley

The Panthers pulled away in the second half to take down Maple Valley 59-50 in the Big 8 opener December 9.

Buddenborg had a big night with 21 points and five steals to lead Stockbridge.

Lockhart had a double-double of 14 points and ten rebounds, while Crow added 13 points. Christie chipped in with six points, Gross four, and Sandecki with one point, eight assists, and six steals.

Springport

The Panthers passed their first big test of the season December 12 when Stockbridge beat Springport in an early Big 8 showdown 48-34.

Stockbridge outscored the Spartans 29-19 in the second half to pull away for the win.

Crow had a huge night with 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Panthers.

Sandecki added six points and five assists, while Buddenborg had six points, six rebounds, and four assists. Lott chipped in with five points, Lockhart four points, Griffith two, and Christie one.

Fowlerville

The Panthers blew open and ten-point halftime with a 22-8 run in the third to beat Fowlerville 56-34 December 15.

Crow led Stockbridge with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Buddenburg finished with 14 points, while Lockhart had seven points and six boards. Lott and Giffith scored four reach, Christie and Gross three apiece, and Sandecki two points.

Union City

Stockbridge built a 19-point lead in the third quarter but had a hold off a big Chargers rally to hold on for a 56-45 win December 18.

Crow had a huge first half and finished with a team high 24 points and six rebounds to lead the Panthers.

Buddenburg had 13 points and six assists and Lockhart six points and four assists. Christie chipped in with five points, Hamlett and Cordero three each, and Gross two.

Homer

The Panthers used a big second quarter and held off a late fourth quarter rally to improve to 7-0 with at 64-58 win over Homer Monday, December 22.

Crow led the Panthers with 24 points and eight rebounds.

Sandecki finished with eight points and eight assists, while Lockhart added six points and ten rebounds. Christie chipped in with seven points, Buddenborg and Koen Griffith scored six each, Tucker Lott four points and six rebounds, and Cordero three points.

The Panthers travel to Pinckney Tuesday and then will take part in a doubleheader with the varsity girls team at Little Caesars Arena Monday, January 5 at noon against Dearborn Heights Crestwood.