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UTICA – That’s what one calls a dominating season-opening win.

A year after finishing just 4-18 overall, Utica opened up the 2025-26 boys basketball season with a resounding 68-23 over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore in a Macomb Area Conference crossover game.

Trying to reverse last season’s trends, Hayden Hirmiz posted a fine all-around game as he poured in 20 points to go along with rebounds, four assists and three steals to pace the Chieftains to the 45-point win over the rebuilding Shorians.

Elijah Coffee and Alex Bosilkovski added nine points and three assists apiece, while Malik Cross-Nelson added seven points for Utica, which gained great balance across numerous offensive and defensive categories.

Lake Shore was led by Josh Sewell, who s

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