Potterville at Fulton – – Girls Basketball – – CMAC Co-Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 8, 2021 – – by Chuck Krafft

As we get into the second week of the basketball game, it is time for the Bleacher Denizen to start up with his CMAC Game of the Week Series. As I will be at Pewamo-Westphalia Friday, this will have to be a Co-Game of the week. Your indecisive Bleacher Denizen can’t bear to elevate one game over the other. Some day, I will have to research the internet Game of the Week naming regulations to determine how to resolve this, but tonight I’m a bit too lazy.

Fulton and Potterville are both undefeated so far this year. The Potterville Vikings own wins over Mason and Vermontville Maple Valley while the Fulton Pirates have won their only game over Blanchard Montabella.

Viking Coach gave me the following information to help introduce his players.

Darby Lienerth is a great leader, perimeter defender and ball handler who runs the point and is adept at scoring from the three point lane or slashing to the basket. Kaylee Bush plays in the middle and has all the defensive, rebounding and inside scoring skills you would expect to see in a post player. However, Ms. Bush is one of the best shooters from the three point line as well; her accuracy at the free throw line is also exceptional.

Madelyn Geisenhaver is a strong defender and rebounder in the post. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks is one of the toughest inside defenders in the area. She does not fear anyone or anything. Lexis Wheeler is a determined perimeter defender who gives the Vikings another threat from the three point line. Katelyn Martinez gives the Vikings another reliable perimeter defender. Kaylee Carlson is a great leader who inspires her teammates with her energy, especially on defense. Unfortunately, she is injured and will not play tonight.

Kennedy Spotts is a good three point shooter and perimeter defender. Mackenzie Baley motivates her teammates with her constant positivity. Madi Kushion is a hard worker with a great attitude who lifts her teammates with her example.

Fulton Coach Zach Baker gave me this information about his Pirate players. Morgan Kowalesky runs the point for the Pirates. She is a fine passer, shooter and perimeter defender. Avery Walden is a great rebounder and three point shooter. She is a smart player with an unselfish attitude. Madison Bensinger is a versatile player who can slash to the basket or shoot the threeball. Alyssa Lambert plays tough in the middle. Emily Stinson is a strong scorer, rebounder and defender in the post. Shelby Staley is another good inside scorer and rebounder.

It is now time to look at the results of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he hooped in the ancient days. Rumor has it that he was considered to be young then. Reports that he destroyed too many of the peach baskets they used to shoot at in the days of yore with his persistent bricks are to be neither confirmed or denied.

Fulton wins the opening tap. Madelyn Geisenhaver blocks a Fulton shot in the lane. Potterville misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Darby Lienerth steals the ball and passes to Kaylee Bush for a layup that gives Potterville the first two points of the game. Madison Bensinger hits a three point shot to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Potterville misses an eight foot jumper. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing. Emily Stinson gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Potterville is whistled for a double dribble violation. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Potterville reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the corner. Madison Geisenhaver gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Potterville is fouled on a layup, but misses its free throws. With 5:02 to play in the first quarter, Fulton’s lead remains at 3-2.

Avery Walden passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses her free throws. Darby Lienerth bounces the ball to Chrissy Jordan-Hicks, who hits a layup to give her Vikings the lead. Fulton misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Shelby Staley gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup. Kaylee Bush throws in a threeball from the top of the key to give her Vikings a 7-3 lead.

Fulton misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Madelyn Geisenhaver spins and hits a layup for Potterville. Fulton travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting; I don’t suppose that travelling without the ball is terribly noteworthy.) Potterville misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Kaylee Bush is fouled on a putback and sinks her two free throws to boost Potterville to an 11-3 lead with 2:51 to play in the first quarter.

On the other end, Kaylee Bush knocks a pass under the basket out of bounds to prevent a Fulton layup. The ball goes back to Fulton, but the Pirates miss a layup. Potterville misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Madelyn Geisenhaver is able to save the rebound for the Vikings despite being fouled in the process. Potterville misses a six foot shot from the side. Kaylee Bush plunders the ball for the Vikings. Darby Lienerth hits a layup for the Vikings. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 2:03 left in the period, Potterville’s lead is at 13-3.

Darby Lienerth nearly steals the ball for Potterville, but Fulton is able to recover. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Potterville misses a fifteen footer from the side. Fulton misfires on a threeball from the wing. Potterville misses a layup. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Potterville is fouled on a layup, but misses both free throws. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks gets the offensive rebound for Potterville. The Vikings miss a three pointer from the wing just before the buzzer.

After one quarter, Potterville has a 13-3 lead.

Fulton inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Pirates misfire on a triple try from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton gets another opportunity. In a deja vu moment, the Pirates misfire on a triple try from the corner. To further the deja vu moment, the ball goes out of bounds and Fulton gets another opportunity. The deja vu sensation ends as Fulton is whistled for an over and back violation. Potterville misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. Kaylee Bush gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. After another miss, Darby Lienerth hits a putback to give her Vikings a 15-3 lead.

Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Potterville misses a jump shot from the wing and two putbacks. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Emily Stinson gets the offensive rebound for Fulton. Lexis Wheeler steals the ball for the Vikings. Emily Stinson harasses the Vikings into a travelling violation. Darby Lienerth steals the ball for Potterville and hits a fast break layup to increase the Viking lead to 17-3.

Fulton misses a layup. Madison Bensinger gets the offensive rebound for Fulton. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Potterville takes possession. Potterville reciprocates and misses a three point shot from the wing. Darby Lienerth steals the ball for the Vikings. Avery Walden steals the ball for the Pirates. (It seems that having too many Pirates and Vikings in the building can lead to lots of plundering and pillaging. Hopefully there will be enough basketballs left to finish the game.)

Fulton misfires on a triple try from the side. Fulton blocks a Potterville shot; the Vikings recover the ball. Alyssa Lambert tips the ball away from Potterville, but the Vikings are again able to recover. Potterville bounces a pass out of bounds. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks steals the ball for the Vikings. Potterville loses the ball out of bounds. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Alyssa Lambert hits a putback to end the Potterville fifteen point scoring run going back to the first quarter. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 1:59 to remaining in the first half, Potterville’s lead is at 17-5.

Darby Lienerth passes to Madelyn Geisenhaver for a Viking layup. Madelyn Geisenhaver blocks a Fulton shot; the ball goes out of bounds and Potterville takes possession. Madelyn Geisenhaver passes to Kaylee Bush, who hits a layup for the Vikings, is fouled, and makes her free throw. Madison Bensinger passes to Alyssa Lambert, who hits a layup with 7.7 seconds left on the first half clock and is fouled. She misses her free throw. Shelby Staley gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton is whistled for a travelling violation. Potterville misses a buzzer heave.

Potterville has a 22-7 lead at halftime. I will check the scoreboard at the start of the third quarter to see if the lead is still there.

At halftime, Kaylee Bush has 10 points and Darby Lienerth has 6 points to lead the Potterville scoring.

Madison Bensinger leads Fulton’s scoring with 3 points.

At the start of the third quarter, your Bleacher Denizen checks the scoreboard and feels obligated to report that Potterville’s 22-7 lead is still there.

Alas, in a senior moment, your Bleacher Denizen started typing the fourth quarter and has just deleted two sentences. He will try harder!!!

Potterville inbounds the ball to commence the third quarter. Emily Stinson dives and knocks the ball away from Potterville; the ball goes out of bounds and the Vikings retain possession. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks passes to Kaylee Bush, who sinks a threeball from the corner for Potterville. Potterville steals the ball. (Your aging Bleacher Denizen apologizes for not seeing which Viking made this fine defensive play.)

Potterville misses a fast break layup. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Potterville bounces a pass out of bounds. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Potterville misses a three point shot from the wing. Morgan Kowalesky passes to Avery Walden, who throws in a threeball from the corner to trim the Viking lead to 25-10.

Potterville misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner. Potterville misses a fast break layup. Kaylee Bush is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for Potterville. (Why do they even make her shoot them? We all know she’s going to make them anyway!) With 5:17 remaining in the third quarter, Potterville has a 27-10 lead.

Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Madelyn Geisenhaver passes to Darby Lienerth, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Potterville. Morgan Kowalesky passes to Avery Walden, who launches and sinks a threeball from the corner for Fulton to shave the Viking lead to 28-13.

Abby Warnke pillages the ball for the Pirates. Lexis Wheeler extends this into a mini crime wave by plundering the ball for the Vikings. Abby Warnke steals the ball for the Pirates. (Do the school authorities need to do something about this crime wave?) Potterville steals the ball again and Kaylee Bush hits a fast break layup for Potterville. Darby Lienerth steals the ball for Potterville. Kaylee Bush passes the ball to Madelyn Geisenhaver, who is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to stretch the Viking lead to 31-13 with 3:22 to go in the third quarter.

Fulton misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Kaylee Bush passes to Darby Lienerth for a Potterville layup. Emily Stinson hits a six foot banked shot from the side for Fulton. Potterville is called for carrying the ball. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks knocks the ball out of bounds. Fulton gets the ball back. Alyssa Lambert inbounds the ball to Emily Stinson, who hits a layup for the Pirates to shave the Viking lead to 33-17.

Madison Geisenhaver throws a perfectly placed and perfectly timed pass behind her back to Darby Lienerth, who hits a layup for the Vikings. After Fulton turns the ball over, Potterville misses a three point shot from the wing. Fulton shows some sharp passing as Ali Salogar passes to Alyssa Lambert, who directs the ball to Emily Stinson, who scores a layup for the Pirates. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks passes to Kaylee Bush for a Potterville layup. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing.

Emily Stinson gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup, but Potterville fouls on the rebound. Alyssa Lambert inbounds the ball to Emily Stinson, who hits a sixteen foot shot from the baseline as time expires in the third quarter.

After three quarters, Potterville has a 37-21 lead.

Fulton has the ball to start off the fourth quarter. Madison Bensinger passes to Shelby Staley, who hits a layup for the Pirates. Potterville misses a layup. Kyra Marciniak hits a putback for Potterville. Avery Walden passes to Morgan Kowalesky, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fulton to trim the Potterville lead to 37-26.

Potterville misses a layup. Fulton turns the ball offer. Darby Lienerth hits a ten foot shot from the side of the lane for Potterville. Fulton turns the ball over. Shelby Staley knocks a Potterville pass out of bounds; the Vikings keep the ball. Potterville misses a layup. Lexis Wheeler steals the ball for the Vikings. Potterville misses a three point shot from the corner. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks gets the offensive rebound for Potterville.

Avery Walden knocks the ball away from Potterville and Madison Bensinger picks it up for Fulton. Fulton misses a driving runner. Kaylee Bush is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to extend the Potterville lead to 43-26 with 5:09 left on the game clock.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks passes the ball to Madelyn Geisenhaver, who hits a layup for Potterville. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. Potterville gets the offensive rebound, but misses a layup. Kaylee Bush steals a Pirate pass. Potterville misses a three pointer from the corner. Kaylee Bush steals a Pirate pass. Alyssa Lambert knocks a Potterville pass out of bounds; Potterville gets the ball back. Darby Lienerth is fouled and makes both shots of a one and one free throw opportunity to push the Potterville lead to 47-26 with 2:56 remaining in the game.

Fulton misfires on a triple try from the wing. Potterville misses a seventeen footer from the wing. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks gets the offensive rebound for Potterville. Alyssa Lambert draws a charging foul from the Vikings. Abby Warnke alertly saves a loose ball to prevent a Pirate turnover. Madison Bensinger passes to Alyssa Lambert, who hits a layup for the Pirates. Darby Lienarth hits a fifteen foot shoot off the dribble from the side for Potterville to give the Vikings a 49-28 lead.

Darby Lienerth hits the floor to steal the ball for the Vikings; somehow she is able to keep the ball in bounds. Madison Bensinger goes to the floor to knock the ball away from the Vikings, but Potterville recovers. Ali Salogar goes to the floor to tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow is quite impressed with her hustle and determination; the ball is awarded to the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup.

The rebound goes out of bounds and Potterville gets the ball. The Vikings miss a three point shot from the corner. Fulton misses a ten foot shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds to Fulton. There is barely a second left on the clock as Fulton inbounds the ball one last time.

Potterville wins this CMAC Co-Game of the Week by a 49-28 score.

Emily Stinson led the Fulton scoring with 8 points. Avery Walden and Alyssa Lambert each supported their teammate with 6 points. Morgan Kowalesky and Madison Bensinger each added 3 points. Shelby Staley tallied 2 points.

Kaylee Bush led the victorious Vikings with 21 points. Darby Lienerth supported her with 17 points. Madelyn Geisenhaver added 7 points. Chrissy Jordan-Hicks and Kyra Marciniak each scored 2 points.