Grand Ledge at Holt – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 9, 2021 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is staying close to his home in South Lansing. He is at Holt, where the Rams will host the Comets from Grand Ledge. Grand Ledge is playing its season opener while Holt had a win over Linden Tuesday in its only game so far.

Grand Ledge Coach Travis Schellhammer shared this information about his Comet players. They will have good size with 6′ 7″ Nick Ellis and 6′ 6″ Teddy Williams. Isaiah Bailey is a four year varsity player who brings a lot of size (6′ 4″) at the guard position. Elijah Hendricks is a sophomore who will contribute.

Holt Coach Ben Curtis gave me this information about his Ram players. Jakari Conway is in his fourth year of varsity basketball. He is really athletic with a jumper that is reliable from midrange or the three point line. Isaiah Foster is another returning starter. He runs the point and provides excellent ball handling and leadership. He is also an outstanding on ball defender. Ayden VanEnkevort is a senior who was injured last year. He is a great passer and creator.

Kellen Reed is a great athlete who runs the floor really well. Jiri Ash-Shakoor is an active defender who steals and deflects a lot of passes. He is also a fine rebounder. Jayden Stone slashes to the basket well and is a great finisher in the paint. Donye Thomas is a sophomore who brings a lot on the offensive end of the court!

I got to the JV game just before halftime. Holt had a 21-11 lead at halftime. Grand Ledge ran off a seventeen point scoring run to take a 28-21 lead. Holt finished the last bit of the third quarter and the fourth quarter on a 24-11 run to win the game 45-39.

It is now time to look at this game through the recently somewhat cleaned lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempt to hoop in the days of yore. Even though everyone else caught on, the Bleacher Denizen never DID figure out that you can only run with the ball if you bounce it. Sometimes it was really embarrassing being stared at!!

Grand Ledge wins the opening tap. The Comets miss a driving layup. Holt drives the baseline, but misses a layup. Grand Ledge watches as a threeball from the wing goes in and out of the basket. Jakari Conway hits a twelve foot jumper on the fast break from the side to give Holt the first two points of the game. Teddy Williams hits a layup for Grand Ledge to tie the game at 2-2.

Holt misfires on a threeball from the wing. Jakari Conway gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a driving reverse layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Grand Ledge gets the ball. Caleb Estrada goes through coast to coast and through the lane for a layup that gives the Comets a 4-2 lead.

Holt misses a five footer in the lane. Isaiah Fosters steals the ball for the Rams. Caleb Estrada steals the ball for the Comets. Jakari Conway knocks a Comet pass out of bounds; Grand Ledge retains possession. Jakari Conway ties up the ball on a Comet drive. The Possession Arrow is excited about the aggressive hustle and quickly awards the ball to the Rams. Jayden Stone drives and hits a reverse layup for Holt to tie the game at 4-4.

Grand Ledge is fouled on a runner in the lane, but misses two free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Holt takes the ball. Elijah Hendricks knocks a pass out of bounds; Holt retains possession. Holt misses a fifteen foot jumper from the side. A loose ball results; Holt’s Isaiah Foster and Grand Ledge’s Isaiah Bailey tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow consults its array of rules experts and attorneys to determine that the ball will go to Grand Ledge.

Isaiah Foster goes to the floor and nearly steals the ball from Grand Ledge, but his momentum makes him slide out of bounds. Carson Steinhaus knocks the ball away from Grand Ledge and Jakari Conway grabs it for Holt. Holt misfires on a three point shot from the wing; Jakari Conway hits a outback to give Holt the lead. Isaiah Bailey drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge to tie the game at 6-6.

Holt misses a jump shot; Jakari Conway gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses an eight foot shot from the side. Grand Ledge throws its outlet pass too long and out of bounds. Holt misses a threeball from the wing. Jayden Stone steals the Comet outlet pass and goes all the way to the other end for a layup as Holt takes an 8-6 lead.

Grand Ledge misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Teddy Williams gets the offensive rebound and passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but the Comets miss two free throws. Jayden Stone drives in for a Ram layup to give his team a 10-6 lead.

Grand Ledge misses a fast break layup. Holt misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Grand Ledge gets the ball. Grand Ledge misses a threeball from the wing; Teddy Williams hits a outback for the Comets. Holt holds the ball for the last shot. Holt misses a driving layup with about five seconds left in the quarter. Caleb Estrada quickly gets the ball to Nick Ellis, who spins and hits a layup at the buzzer to tie the game.

After one quarter, the game is tied at 10-10.

Holt inbounds the ball to start the second quarter. Holt misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Grand Ledge is assessed with an over and back violation. Holt misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Jakari Conway passes to Jayden Stone for a layup the gives Holt a 12-10 lead.

Jakari Conway draws a charging foul to negate a Comet layup. Holt misses a three point attempt from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Isaiah Bailey is fouled a outback and hits two free throws to tie the game at 12-12 with 6:29 to play in the first half.

Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Elijah Hendricks draws a charging foul from Holt. Elijah Hendricks passes to Isaiah Bailey, who drives and hits a layup to give Grand Ledge the lead. Ayden VanEnkevort is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Comet lead to 14-13 with 5:43 remaining in the half.

Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. Teddy Williams blocks a Ram layup. Elijah Hendricks hits a fast break layup for Grand Ledge. The Rams misfire on a triple try from the wing. Teddy Williams passes to Nick Ellis for a Comet layup. Holt misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Justin Odlum throws in a threeball from the side to boost the Comet lead to 21-13.

Jayden Stone responds with a long three point shot from the wing for Holt. Caden Knight passes to Nick Ellis, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for the Comets. Holt misses a driving layup. Isaiah Foster knocks a Comet pass out of bounds; Grand Ledge retains possession. Grand Ledge misses an eight foot runner in the lane. Holt misses a layup. Isaiah Foster gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Carloes Speed gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Isaiah Foster inbounds the ball to Carloes Speed, who hits a layup to trim the Comet lead to 23-18.

Grand Ledge misses a three point shot from the side. Caden Knight knocks the ball away from the Rams and Justin Odlum picks it up for the Comets. Isaiah Bailey drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Holt turns the ball over. Grand Ledge misses a six foot hook shot. Jayden Stone steals the ball for Holt. The Rams miss a dunk. Teddy Williams is awarded two points when his layup is goaltended. Grand Ledge leads 27-18 at this point.

Your Bleacher Denizen is proud to mention that his church league coach never EVER had to worry about him committing a goaltending violation. He had far too much respect for the game to even think about violating the rules that way. Those of you who point out that the Bleacher Denizen is only 5′ 9″ and has less jumping ability than most hippopotami are simply being cynical!!

Holt misses a driving layup. Kellen Reed soars to block a Comet fast break layup. Holt misses a fast break reverse layup. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Jakari Conway drives in and makes a fast break reverse layup for Holt. Elijah Hendricks passes to Teddy Williams, who gets the ball to Nick Ellis, who is fouled on a layup at the buzzer. Nick Ellis hits two free throws for Grand Ledge.

At halftime, Grand Ledge holds a 29-20 lead.

Jayden Stone has 11 points and Jakari Conway has 6 points to lead the Ram scoring at halftime.

Nick Ellis has 8 points to lead the Comets. Isaiah Bailey and Teddy Williams each have 6 points.

Holt’s Step Team entertains at halftime. This consists of a combination of clapping and stomping to rhythm with a bit of movement and dancing. They were well-rehearsed and did a nice, entertaining job!!! Kudos for the step team!

As your Bleacher Denizen is a professional musician, he enjoys crediting musicians and other performers from the high schools. Those of you who are curious might (hopefully) enjoy this original tune from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube page!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol3R-ZL9568

Grand Ledge inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Teddy Williams passes to Nick Ellis, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws. Elijah Hendricks steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give his Comets a 33-20 lead.

Holt misses a driving layup. Isaiah Foster steals the ball for the Rams. Elijah Hendricks blocks a Holt fast break layup. There is a collision the ends up resulting in a double technical foul. Holt gets the ball. Ayden VanEnkevort passes to Kellen Reed, who hits a jump shot from the free throw line for the Rams. Grand Ledge loses the ball out of bounds. Holt misses a ten foot shot from the side. Kellen Reed gets the offensive rebound for Holt. Holt misses a dunk shot. Jiri Ash-Shakoor gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt commits an offensive foul. Isaiah Bailey goes coast to coast for a layup that gives Grand Ledge a 35-22 lead.

Jayden Stone makes a layup for Holt. Jayden Stone knocks the ball away from the Comets and Isaiah Foster picks it up for the Rams. Jayden Stone passes to Kellen Reed, who is fouled on a fast break layup. Kellen Reed hits two free throws for Holt. Teddy Williams is fouled on a layup and makes two free throws for the Comets to boost their lead to 37-26 with 4:58 to play in the third quarter.

Jayden Stone sinks a driving layup for Holt. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Isaiah Foster passes to Ayden VanEnkevort, who throws in a threeball from the wing for the Rams. Grand Ledge misses an eight foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Jayden Stone hits a fast break layup to slash the Comet lead to 37-33.

Isaiah Bailey is fouled and makes one of two free throws for the Comets. Teddy Williams gets the offensive rebound for Grand Ledge. The Comets misfire on a threeball from the top of the key. Jayden Stone makes an athletic save to keep the ball from going out of bounds; he then passes to Carson Steinhaus, who hits a layup to trim the Comet lead to three points. Nick Ellis is fouled and hits two free throws to extend the Comet lead to 40-35 with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Ayden VanEnkevort passes to Jakari Conway, who hits a reverse layup for the Rams. Elijah Hendricks drives and sinks a layup for Grand Ledge. Jakari Conway drives and hits a layup to cut the Ram lead back to three points. Carson Steinhaus knocks a Comet pass out of bounds; Grand Ledge gets the ball back. Grand Ledge misses a three point shot from the side. Isaiah Bailey gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Isaiah Bailey is fouled on a outback and hits one of his two free throws to give his Comets a 43-39 lead with 2:01 to go in the third quarter.

Nick Ellis gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Isaiah Bailey snares the offensive rebound for Grand Ledge. He drives back inside and hits a layup for the Comets. Holt turns the ball over. Isaiah Bailey is fouled and hits one of two free throws to push the Comet lead to 46-39 with 1:36 left on the third quarter clock.

Grand Ledge gets the ball back. J.D. McCrary hits a layup for the Comets. Holt is assessed with a technical foul. Grand Ledge misses both free throws. Grand Ledge inbounds the ball because of the technical. Grand Ledge misfires on a triple try from the side. Isaiah Foster passes to Jakari Conway, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the wing for Holt. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Jakari Conway hits a fast break layup to cut the Comet lead to 48-43.

Grand Ledge misses a layup. Caden Knight gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Isaiah Bailey hits a outback for the Comets and is fouled, but misses his free throw. With 31.7 seconds to go in the quarter, Grand Ledge has a 50-43 lead.

Grand Ledge’s J.D. McCrary nearly saves the rebound of the missed free throw for the Comets, but the Rams get the ball. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Grand Ledge misses a fast break layup. Holt misses a three point shot from the side as time expires in the third quarter.

With three quarters in the books, Grand Ledge has a 50-43 lead.

Holt has the ball to start out the fourth quarter. Teddy Williams steals a Holt pass into the lane. Ayden VanEnkevort steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Holt. Isaiah Foster steals the ball for the Rams. Holt loses a pass out of bounds. Isaiah Bailey drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Holt misses a threeball from the top of the key. Jiri Ash-Shakoor gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. J.D. McCrary passes to Teddy Williams for a layup to push the Comet lead to 54-45.

Ayden VanEnkevort passes to Isaiah Foster, who hits a three pointer from the corner for Holt. Jiri Ash-Shakoor draws a charging foul from the Comets. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Isaiah Bailey is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits one of his two free throws to give his Comets a 55-48 lead with 5:20 left on the clock.

Justin Odlum steals the ball for Grand Ledge. Grand Ledge misses a six footer in the lane. Holt misses a three point attempt from the wing. Kellen Reed is fouled on a outback and makes one of his two free throws for the Rams. Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. Teddy Williams hits a for the Rams. Isaiah Foster passes to Jakari Conway, who throws in a fifteen footer from the side to trim the Comet lead to 57-51.

Jayden Stone nearly steals the ball for Holt; Grand Ledge barely hangs on to the ball and calls a timeout to avoid a turnover. Ayden VanEnkevort steals a Comet pass. Holt misses a fast break layup. Jayden Stone knocks the ball out of bounds; Grand Ledge retains possession. Kellen Reed knocks the ball away from Grand Ledge and Jayden Stone picks it up for Holt. Jayden Stone passes to Jakari Conway for a layup that shaves the Comet lead to four points. Grand Ledge is fouled, but misses two free throws. With 2:43 remaining in the game, the Grand Ledge lead is at 57-53.

Holt misses a driving layup. Elijah Hendricks hits a fast break layup to boost the Comet lead to six points. Holt is fouled on a driving runner in the lane, but misses both free throws. Grand Ledge misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Holt misses a runner. Carloes Speed hits a outback for Holt. Elijah Hendricks is fouled and hits two free throws for the Comets to extend their lead to 61-55 with 1:34 to go.

Isaiah Foster passes to Kellen Reed for a Ram layup. Elijah Hendricks is fouled and makes one of his two free throws for the Comets. Holt misses a three point shot from the corner. Jakari Conway gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Teddy Williams blocks a Holt layup. Ayden VanEnkevort plays tight defense to force a Comet turnover. Holt is fouled on a layup and misses two free throws. With 47.6 seconds left on the clock, Grand Ledge has a 62-57 lead.

Isaiah Bailey is fouled and makes two free throws for Grand Ledge. Holt misses a six foot runner in the lane. Isaiah Bailey is fouled and makes one of his two free throws to give his Comets a 65-57 lead with 31.2 seconds to go.

Carson Steinhaus alertly saves the ball to prevent a Ram turnover. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Grand Ledge dribbles the last few seconds off the clock.

Grand Ledge wins this fiercely contested contest by the score of 65-57.

Jakari Conway led the Holt scoring with 18 points. Jayden Stone supported his teammate with 17 points. Kellen Reed put in 7 points. Ayden VanEnkevort scored 6 points. Carloes Speed contributed 4 points. Isaiah Foster threw in 3 points. Carson Steinhaus had 2 points.

Isaiah Bailey led the victorious Comets with 21 points. Elijah Hendricks scored 13 points. Teddy Williams and Nick Ellis joined their teammate in double figures with 12 points each. Justin Odlum added 3 points. Caleb Estrada and J. D. McCrary each tossed in 2 points.