Holt at DeWitt – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 18, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight your Bleacher Denizen’s journey takes him to DeWitt. After last night’s trek to Kingston, it’s nice to drive a short distance. (Someday, I will learn what certificate I need so that I can officially call my travels an odyssey, like the cool people do.)

On thing about getting to DeWitt is that I had to ignore my recent video on my You Tube Channel where I suggest that people follow the Red River Valley because you don’t know where it will lead you. Alas, even the Red Cedar River doesn’t go by DeWitt so far as I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

I was there to see the last half of the JV game. Holt led at halftime by a 28-15 score. DeWitt roared back in the third quarter and outscored Holt 15-6 to pull within 4 points at 34-30 by the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, Nicole O’Neal scored a basket for DeWitt to pull her team to within one point at 38-37. Holt pulled away and ended up winning the game by a final score of 47-42.

Laynie Hanlin led the DeWitt Panther JVs with 12 points. Taylor Roberts joined her teammate in double figures with 11 points. Jordyn Crawley added 6 points. Nicole O’Neal scored 5 points. Madison McDonald, Sarah Reynolds, Kennedy Goerge and Emmalee-Wolf-Plain each tallied 2 points.

Claire Tobias and Presley Pazitka each had 14 points to lead the Holt Rams. Alivia White, Neveah Vincent and Genevieve Nagel each scored 4 points. Breanna Cornelius added 3 points. Aniah Darden and Shaelyn Schwem each had 2 points.

The DeWitt Panthers enter the game with an 8-1 record while the Holt Rams are 5-1. Each team has lost only to the powerful East Lansing Trojans.

Taryn Gustafson is DeWitt’s leading scorer and leading rebounder. She has a great three point shot and can also get to the basket. Peyton Anderson plays aggressive perimeter defense and leads the Panthers in steals. Karissa Cochran is a returning starter who brings experience to the Panthers. She is a strong defender. Morgan Bethard is a fine physical rebounder and defender in the post. Madison Uyl runs the point for DeWitt and leads the team in assists. She is a fine ball handler and passer. Thanks to DeWitt Coach Bill McCullen for providing this information!

Holt Coach Tori Brooks gave me this information about her Ram players. Janae Tyler dominates opponents inside with a combination of strength, confidence and skill. She has excellent footwork and can always find a way to shoot a good shot once she gets the ball inside. She has great hands so she is able to catch passes and rebound in the paint. She has an array of shots off the backboard so it is really difficult for opposing defenses to do much about her. Claire Groenewoud can score in many ways. She is a threat to slash to the basket or throw in the three pointer. She handles the ball a lot and helps distribute to her teammates. Rhema Dozier is a determined, relentless perimeter defender.

Taylor Titus is a fine rebounder who can score inside. Jadyn Joseph is an intelligent player who keeps the ball moving on offense, defends her position and does a lot of the unsung things that every successful team needs. Allison Metzger brings depth to the point guard position and is a fine ball handler.

It is great to see that Brock Palmbos and Doc Love are here to broadcast the game for AM730. The pressure is on now as there is another source of the detail of this game. I hope I see the same game they do!

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the bleary lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. While people would criticize the Bleacher Denizen’s lateral quickness on defense, I will defend him by reminding you that few people moved quickly or gracefully in the togas and sandals basketball players wore when I was young.

DeWitt wins the opening tap. The Panthers miss a three point shot from the wing. Holt bounces a pass out of bounds. DeWitt misses an eight foot shot from the wing. Holt misses a layup. Taylor Titus hits a putback to give Holt the first two points of the game. Peyton Anderson passes to Morgan Bethard for a DeWitt layup that ties the game. Taryn Gustafson steals the ball for DeWitt. Karissa Cochran passes the ball to Morgan Bethard, who is fouled on a layup and makes two free throws for DeWitt. With 5:38 to play in the first quarter, the score is Morgan Bethard 4 Taylor Titus 2.

The ball gets away from Holt and Taylor Anderson picks it up for DeWitt. Taryn Gustafson throws in a threeball from the side for DeWitt. Morgan Bethard steals a Ram pass. Taylor Titus stands tall in the lane on defense and forces the Panthers to miss a layup. Janae Tyler is fouled on a six foot bank shot and hits two free throws to trim the Panther lead to 7-4 with 4:20 to play in the half.

DeWitt misfires on a triple try from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Holt takes possession. Claire Groenewoud passes to Janae Tyler, who spins and banks in a layup to trim the DeWitt lead to one point. Taryn Gustafson hits a three point shot from the wing for DeWitt. A Holt pass sails out of bounds. Rhema Dozier nearly steals the ball for Holt, but DeWitt recovers. Janae Tyler steals the ball for the Rams. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Kaylin Howard gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Janae Tyler gets the offensive rebound for Holt; the Rams miss a layup. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the wing. Karissa Cochran hits a putback to give the Panthers a 12-6 lead.

Rhema Dozier drives and hits a reverse layup for the Rams. DeWitt misfires on a threeball from the wing. Madison Uyl blocks a Ram shot. DeWitt misses a fast break layup. Claire Groenewoud passes to Janae Tyler, who spins and hits a layup for the Rams. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the wing. Taryn Gustafson gets the offensive rebound for DeWitt and hits a ten foot shot from the side at the buzzer.

After one quarter, DeWitt has a 14-10 lead.

Holt has the ball to start out the second quarter. Janae Tyler passes to Claire Groenewoud, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws. DeWitt misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Morgan Bethard gets the offensive rebound for DeWitt. Tara Kurncz drives and dishes the ball to Morgan Bethard, who hits a layup, is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to give the Panthers a 17-11 lead with 7:29 to play in the first half.

Rhema Dozier passes to Taylor Titus, who hits a layup for Holt. DeWitt turns the ball over. Holt misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the side. Taryn Gustafson snares the offensive rebound for the Rams. Janae Tyler plays tough defense and forces DeWitt to miss a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Holt gets the ball. Bailey Hosford passes to Claire Groenewoud, who hits a layup for Holt to trim the Panther lead to 17-15.

Rhema Dozier steals the ball for Holt. The Rams misfires on a three pointer from the wing. DeWitt travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting; traveling without the ball is not terribly newsworthy.) Holt misses a five foot banked shot. The rebound goes out of bounds and Holt retains possession. Peyton Anderson steals the Holt inbound pass. Peyton Anderson is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to boost DeWitt to a 19-15 lead with 4:34 to play in the second quarter.

Holt misses a six foot banked shot. The rebound goes out of bounds and DeWitt gets the ball. Madison Uyl drives to the basket and hits a layup for the Panthers. Claire Groenewoud passes to Janae Tyler, who spins and hits a six foot shot in the lane for Holt. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the wing. Claire Groenewoud gets into the lane and hits a ten foot scooped runner for the Rams. DeWitt misses a layup. Jadyn Joseph passes to Janae Tyler, who is fouled as she shoots a layup. Janae Tyler hits one of her two free throws to pull the Rams to within one point at 21-20 with 2:33 left on the first half clock.

Madison Uyl passes to Taryn Gustafson, who throws in a threeball from the wing for the Panthers. Holt misses a layup. Janae Tyler blocks a DeWitt layup; the ball goes out of bounds and DeWitt gets another opportunity. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the side. Holt turns the ball over. Taylor Titus knocks the ball out of bounds; DeWitt gets the ball back. Taylor Titus knocks the ball away from DeWitt and Jadyn Joseph picks it up for Holt. Peyton Anderson steals the ball for DeWitt. DeWitt misses a layup. Madison Uyl steals the ball for DeWitt. Madison Uyl passes to Tara Kurncz, who hits a three point shot from the side for DeWitt to give the Panthers a 27-20 lead.

Holt loses a pass out of bounds with just 1.1 seconds to play in the half. DeWitt inbounds the ball, but does not have time to shoot.

DeWitt has a 27-20 lead at halftime.

Janae Tyler has 9 points for Holt and Claire Groenewoud has 5 at halftime.

Taryn Gustafson has 11 for DeWitt and Morgan Bethard has 7 points.

DeWitt throws the ball in to get the third quarter started. DeWitt throws a pass out of bounds. Jadyn Joseph passes to Janae Tyler, who spins and hits a layup for Holt. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the side. Holt misses a layup; Janae Tyler hits a putback for the Rams. DeWitt throws a pass out of bounds. Rhema Dozier passes to Janae Tyler, who makes and up and under move, spins and hits a layup to cut the DeWitt lead to one point at 27-26.

Taryn Gustafson slings in a threeball from the side to give the Panthers a bit of breathing room. Holt misses a layup. Janae Tyler hits a putback for the Rams. Rhema Dozier gets her hand on the ball and DeWitt loses it out of bounds. Holt is whistled for a traveling violation. DeWitt commits an offensive foul. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Janae Tyler is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to bring Holt to within one point at 30-29 with 4:07 to play in the third quarter.

Karissa Cochran is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for DeWitt. Holt misses a threeball from the wing. Claire Groenewoud gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Rhema Dozier passes to Janae Tyler, who hits a layup for Holt to tie the game. Taryn Gustafson saves a bad pass to prevent a Panther turnover. DeWitt misses a five foot banked shot. Taryn Gustafson gets the offensive rebound and whips a pass to Gabbie Brya, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give DeWitt a 34-31 lead.

Holt misses a layup. Taylor Titus fights for the rebound and causes DeWitt to lose the ball out of bounds. Holt misses a layup. Jadyn Joseph gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Janae Tyler is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for the Rams. DeWitt misses a driving reverse layup. Janae Tyler bounds a pass to Taylor Titus, who hits a layup to give Holt a 35-34 lead.

Holt steals the ball. (Your Bleacher Denizen apologizes for the slow note taking that kept him from crediting the felonious Ram for the steal.) Holt misfires on a triple try from the side. Janae Tyler chases down the long offensive rebound in the corner to give her Rams another possession. Claire Groenewoud passes to Janae Tyler, who hits a layup to give Holt a 37-34 lead.

DeWitt misses a three point shot from the side. Madison Uyl steals the ball for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a jumper from the free throw line as the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After three quarters, Holt has a 37-34 lead.

Holt inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. Karissa Cochran gets her hand on the ball for DeWitt, but Holt is able to recover. Holt misses a three point shot from the corner. Janae Tyler gets the offensive rebound for Holt; the Rams miss a layup. Janae Tyler is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for Holt. With 7:17 left in the game, Holt has a 39-34 lead.

DeWitt misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Peyton Anderson gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Madison Uyl drives and dishes the ball to Tara Kurncz, who throws in a three point shot for DeWitt. Holt misses a layup. Taylor Titus goes to the floor to steal the ball for the Rams. Peyton Anderson knocks the ball out of bounds; Holt retains possession. Holt misses a three point shot from the side. Taryn Gustafson fakes a three pointer and bursts to the basket for a DeWitt layup that ties the game at 39-39.

Holt misses a jumper from the free throw line. Taylor Titus gets her hand on the ball and causes a DeWitt double dribble violation. Jadyn Joseph passes the ball to Kaylin Howard, who hits a layup to retake the lead for Holt. DeWitt misfires on a threeball from the wing. Janae Tyler hits a fast break layup to give Holt a four point lead. Peyton Anderson passes to Taryn Gustafson, who launches and hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Holt lead to 43-42.

Holt misses a layup. Janae Tyler gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Karissa Cochran passes to Taryn Gustafson, who hits a layup for DeWitt; she is fouled and hits her free throw to push DeWitt to a 45-43 lead with 2:46 left on the clock.

Jadyn Joseph passes the ball to Taylor Titus, who is fouled on an up and under layup; she splits a pair of free throws to pull Holt to within one point. Janae Tyler gets the offensive rebound for Holt. Holt misses a layup. Madison Uyl sees a freeway to the basket and quickly darts in to hit a layup that gives DeWitt a 47-44 lead.

Holt commits an offensive foul. Janae Tyler knocks the ball out of bounds; DeWitt retains possession. DeWitt throws its inbound pass out of bounds. Holt misses a layup; Taylor Titus hits a putback to pull Holt to within one point. Karissa Cochran is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give DeWitt a 48-46 lead with 31 seconds to play.

Rhema Dozier passes to Claire Groenewoud, who hits a big three point shot from the wing to give Holt a one point lead with 15 seconds remaining. Taylor Titus disrupts the DeWitt offense and finally ties the ball up with about three seconds left. The Possession Arrow gives the ball back to DeWitt. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the wing at the buzzer.

Holt wins this battle between two fine teams by the score of 49-48.

Taryn Gustafson led the Panthers with 19 points. Morgan Bethard and Karissa Cochran each had 7 points. Tara Kurncz had two three point shots to give her 6 points. Madison Uyl scored 4 points. and Gabbie Brya had 3 points. Peyton Anderson scored 2 points.

Janae Tyler led the Holt scoring with 28 points. Taylor Titus supported her with 9 points and Claire Groenewoud chipped in with 8 points. Rhema Dozier and Kaylin Howard each put in 2 points.