Fowler at Stockbridge – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 6, 2021 – – By Chuck Krafft

“There’s a First Time for Everything” is one of the many songs the Firefox Band did when I played for them from 1987-1993. We were popular and worked all the time. There is actually a blog-related reason to bring this up. Before the blog existed, the Bleacher Denizen played just about every weekend for about fifteen years in local bands. Firefox was the most successful of them; they were based in Stockbridge. In fact, Drummer Extraordinaire Phil Lewis and Singer Extraordinaire Phil Tolliver still live in the area. Both of them still play music regularly, too!! (Technically Mr. Tolliver lives in Gregory, but it’s MY blog and it still counts!)

Speaking of music, the Bleacher Denizen has been busy with the studio. Here is a song of his new German Christmas CD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGlHhrvmuE


When you realize that I’m in Stockbridge to cover a girls basketball game for the first time ever tonight, I’m hoping that first paragraph comes together a bit. Tonight, the Stockbridge Panthers host the Defending Division 4 Fowler Eagles in Girls Basketball and as you may have guessed, I was there to cover it.

The Stockbridge Coaches were generous with their time and gave me this background information about some of the Panther players. Gwen Rogozinski is a four year varsity starter. She plays the point and provides the Panthers with reliable ball handling. She is also a fine three point shooter who also has the ability to slash to the basket. Brooklyn Rachow is a three year varsity player who helps to handle the inside for the Panthers. She is a fine rebounder and defender who is a threat to score on putbacks and exhibits a high Basketball IQ.

Rylee Tolson is another three year player and senior starter who has a high motor that serves her well when she defends on the perimeter. Like the Energizer Bunny, (I hope this reference does not date your aging Bleacher Denizen too much) she never stops!! Alaina Kellenberger is a sophomore center who provides additional defense, rebounding and scoring in the middle!

Coach Nathan Goerge provided me with this information about the Fowler Eagles. They return most of the players from last year’s Division 4 Champions. They are led by senior Mia Riley and junior Emma Riley. These sisters have all the skills you would want from any guard. First and foremost, they are energetic, skilled and clever defenders. On offense, both are excellent ball handlers and passers. Even though they are guards, they (especially Mia) are strong rebounders. Both can slash to the basket or score from the three point line. Mia is a bit more likely to slash to the basket; Emma is a bit more likely to launch the threeball.

Unfortunately, Emma Halfmann, who was probably last year’s best three point shooter (at least by percentage) unfortunately injured herself in volleyball and may have to miss her entire senior season.

Avery Koenigsknecht and Carly Andros are fierce perimeter defenders who can hit the three point shot. Grace Epkey plays defense and scores inside, although she has three point range when she is open. Madison Wirth is a senior who has a fine three point shot and gives senior leadership to the Eagles.

It’s time to review the results of this game through the vulture eyes (Unfortunately, the Bleacher Denizen has aged out of his Eagle Eyes) of a Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he hooped in high school. People criticized the Bleacher Denizen’s jumping ability, but few people jumped well in the metal boots and chain mail that basketball players wore when the Bleacher Denizen was young enough to play back in medieval times.

Fowler wins the opening tap. The Eagles miss a three point attempt from the corner. Stockbridge misses a hook shot, but Alaina Kellenberger hits a putback to give the Panthers the first two points of the game. Mia Riley drives in and hits a layup for Fowler to tie the score. Rylee Tolson passes to Gwen Rogozinski, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give her Panthers a 5-2 lead.

Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing. Mia Riley snares the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Stockbridge misses a layup. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Carly Andros knocks a Panther pass out of bounds; Stockbridge retains possession. Avery Koenigsknecht knocks a Panther pass out of bounds; Stockbridge again retains possession. Gwen Rogozinski passes to Rylee Tolson for a Panther layup to boost their lead to 7-2.

Fowler misses a jump shot. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles and scoops in a layup. Stockbridge misses a layup. Fowler fouls on the rebound and Stockbridge gets another possession. Stockbridge misses a threeball from the side. The Panthers get the offensive rebound. Emma Riley steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagle outlet pass is thrown a bit too far and leaves the court.

Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Fowler misses a triple try from the wing. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Stockbridge reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the wing. Alaina Kellenberger pulls down the offensive rebound for the panthers. Rylee Tolson passes to Alaina Kellenberger, who hits a three point shot to boost the Panther lead to 9-4.

Fowler misfires on a three point launch from the side. Stockbridge misses a shot, but Brooklyn Rochow is there to grab the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the wing. The Riley Connection reveals itself as Mia passes to Sister Emma, who throws in a threeball from the wing to shave the Stockbridge lead to 9-7.

Mia Riley knocks the ball away from Stockbridge; Fowler picks up the ball. Fowler misses a fourteen foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. Gracee Robidou steals the ball for Stockbridge. Emma Riley steals a Panther pass. Mia Riley storms into the lane and hits a ten foot jump shot for Fowler to tie the game at 9-9.

Madison Wirth steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler drives from the side, but misses a layup. The rebound is tied up. After a lot of consideration, the Possession Arrow agrees to award the ball to Stockbridge. Emma Riley steals the ball and hits a fast break hook/layup for Fowler. Taylor Lockhart passes the ball to Alaina Kellenberger, who hits a layup for Stockbridge to tie the game at 11-11.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Mia Riley kicks the Stockbridge inbound pass out of bounds; the Panthers retain possession. Stockbridge misses a layup. Gwen Rogozinski is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to push her Panthers to a 13-11 lead with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side.

After one quarter, Stockbridge has a 13-11 lead.

Fowler has the ball to open the second quarter. Carly Andros passes to Madison Wirth, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side to tie the game. Stockbridge misses on a three point attempt from the wing. Fowler is whistled for a double dribble violation. Stockbridge misses a layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Stockbridge is called for an offensive foul. Fowler misses a layup, but Mia Riley hits a putback to give her Eagles a 15-13 lead.

Carly Andros draws a charging foul from the Panthers. Fowler misses a layup; the Eagles get the offensive rebound. (Your Aging Bleacher Denizen was not able to take notes fast enough to name the Fowler rebounder; my apologies.) Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Your Aging Bleacher Denizen was aware and quick enough to note that Grace Epkey got THIS offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Gwen Rogozinski is fouled on an up and under layup and hits two free throws to tie the game at 15-15 with 5:30 remaining in the first half.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Madison Wirth hustles and knocks the rebound off a Panther player to give her Eagles another possession. Fowler misses a driving layup. Grace Epkey snares the offensive rebound for Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. There is a double foul on the rebound. Fowler ends up with the ball. Gracee Robidou blocks a Fowler layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Fowler misses a driving layup, but Carly Andros hits a putback to give her Eagles a 17-15 lead.

Stockbridge misses an eight foot shot form the side of the lane. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the side. Stockbridge misses a shot and Grace Epkey blocks a Panther putback. There is a scramble for the ball. The Possession Arrow carefully reviews film and gets assessments from its staff; the ball is awarded to Stockbridge. Stockbridge is assessed with an offensive foul. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Grace Epkey gets the offensive rebound for Stockbridge. Taylor Weber hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 20-17 lead.

Alaina Kellenberger hits a fast break layup for Stockbridge. Fowler misses a spinning layup. Quinn Watts causes the Panthers to turn the ball over. Emma Riley scores a fast break layup for Fowler. Gwen Rogozinski is fouled and hits two free throws of a one and one opportunity to shave the Fowler lead to 22-19 with 2:16 left on the first half clock.

Quinn Watts goes to the floor to try to save an errant Fowler pass. There is a tie up. The Possession Arrow is impressed with Ms. Watts’ hustle and awards the ball to the Eagles. Emma Riley passes to Quinn Watts, who hits a layup to give her Eagles a 24-19 lead.

Stockbridge misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Makayla Surline hits a putback for the Panthers. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side and a putback. Gwen Rogozinski is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 24-22 with 1:12 to play in the first half.

Gracie Robidou steals the ball for Stockbridge. Stockbridge misses a fast break layup. Fowler reciprocates and misses a fast break layup. Brooklyn Rochow gets the offensive rebound. Stockbridge is fouled, but a lane violation negates a made free throw on the front end of a one and one opportunity and the Eagles get the ball. Fowler misses a three point shot at the end of the half.

Fowler has a 24-22 halftime lead.

Gwen Rogozinski has 10 points and Alaina Kellenberger has 8 points to lead the Stockbridge scoring at halftime.

Mia Riley has 8 points and Emma Riley has 7 points for Stockbridge.

Stockbridge has the ball to start the third quarter. Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball for Fowler. Emma Riley hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Alaina Kellenberger passes to Gwen Rogozinski for a Stockbridge layup. Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot form the baseline. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Stockbridge misses an eight footer from the baseline. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Carly Andros hits the floor to prevent a layup by knocking a pass out of bounds. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the wing. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Mia Riley for a Fowler layup. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 6:03 left in the third quarter, Fowler has a 28-24 lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Stockbridge misses a fast break hook/layup. Fowler travels on a drive. Emma Riley plays tough defense and draws an offensive foul from the Panthers. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Alaina Kellenberger blocks a Fowler shot. Fowler recovers, but misses a three point shot from the corner. Grace Epkey gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Mia Riley is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Eagle lead to 29-24 with 4:50 to play in the third quarter.

Mia Riley gets a hand on the ball; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another possession. Makayla Surline knocks the ball away from Fowler and Rylee Tolson picks it up for Stockbridge. Stockbridge is fouled on a layup, but misses both its free throws. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Mia Riley gets the offensive rebound for Fowler. Emma Riley passes to Grace Epkey, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to lift the Fowler lead to 30-24 with 4:19 to go in the quarter.

Grace Epkey blocks a Stockbridge jump shot. Brooklyn Rochow’s tough defense leads to a Fowler turnover. Stockbridge misses a layup. Mia Riley passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who throws in a threeball from the corner for the Eagles. Madison Wirth steals the Stockbridge inbound pass. Brooklyn Rochow knocks the ball away from Fowler and Makayla Surline grabs it for Stockbridge. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Madison Wirth, who hits a three point shot from the corner to boost Fowler to a 36-24 lead.

Emma Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point attempt from the wing. Madison Wirth pulls down the offensive rebound for Fowler. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner. Fowler gets the offensive rebound, but Rylee Tolson steals the ball for the Panthers. Gwen Rogozinski hits a fast break layup that trims the Fowler lead to 36-26.

Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing. Taylor Weber gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Stockbridge misses a layup. Avery Koenigsknecht hits a three point shot from the corner to give Fowler a 39-26 lead.

Stockbridge misses a layup. Fowler responds in kind with a missed layup. Brianne Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Stockbridge misses a jump shot in the lane. Rylee Tolson gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Madison Wirth gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing.

After three quarters, Fowler holds a 39-26 lead.

Stockbridge inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the side. Emma Riley hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Stockbridge turns the ball over. Fowler misses a driving layup. Brianne Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Taylor Weber passes to Carly Andros, who fires in a three pointer from the top of the key to give Fowler a 44-26 lead.

Stockbridge misses a layup. Emma Riley passes to Mia Riley, who hits a layup for Fowler and is fouled, but misses her free throw. Fowler comes down with the offensive rebound. Taylor Weber passes to Mia Riley, who hits a threeball from the corner for Stockbridge. Emma Riley knocks the ball away from a Panther dribbler and out of bounds; Stockbridge retains possession. Grace Epkey knocks the ball out of bounds, but Stockbridge gets the ball back again. Grace Epkey steals the ball for Fowler. Avery Koenigsknecht is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost Fowler to a 45-26 lead with 5:12 left on the clock.

Paige Stolarz passes to Rylee Tolson, who drives in and hits a layup for Stockbridge. Grace Epkey hits a jumper from the top of the key just inside the free throw line for Fowler. Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the side. Brooklyn Rochow is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for Stockbridge. Fowler misses on a triple try from the top of the key. Gracee Robidou drives and dishes the ball to Brooklyn Rochow, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Stockbridge. With 3:45 left in the game, Fowler’s lead is at 52-32.

Taylor Weber passes to Madison Wirth, who sinks a three point shot from the side for Fowler. Brooklyn Rochow passes to Alaina Kellenberger, who hits a six foot shot in the lane for Stockbridge. Quinn Watts passes to Madison Wirth, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup to give Fowler a 57-34 lead.

Brianne Halfmann knocks a Stockbridge pass into the lane out of bounds. Stockbridge gets the ball back and misses a three point shot from the side. Fowler is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Brianne Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Taylor Weber passes to Quinn Watts, who hits a layup for Fowler.

Stockbridge misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Shailynn Romero passes to Gracie Robidou, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Stockbridge. Fowler dribbles out the clock.

Fowler wins the game 59-37.

Gwen Rogozinski led the Stockbridge scoring with 12 points. Alaina Kellenberger joined her teammate in double figures with 10 points. Gracee Robidou added 5 points. Brooklyn Rochow and Rylee Tolson each scored 4 points. Makayla Surline tallied 2 points.

Mia Riley led the victorious Fowler team with 16 points. Her sister Emma supported her with 11 points. Madison Wirth tossed in 10 points. Avery Koenigsknecht scored 7 points. Carly Andros put in 5 points. Quinn Watts added 4 points. Grace Epkey and Taylor Weber each tallied 3 points.