Webberville vs. Morrice – – First Round MHSAA Girls District Basketball Tournament – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 28, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft
It’s an interesting situation for the Bleacher Denizen’s psyche. Even though we are dealing with March Madness, technically, this game is happening in February. The mind boggles!!
This is the second game of the evening; for those who are interested, here is the play by play blog of tonight’s first game between Fulton and Lansing Christian.
https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/03/01/fulton-vs-lansing-christian-first-round-of-mhsa-district-tournament-the-bleacher-denizen-february-28-2022-by-chuck-krafft/
Tonight, the Spartans from Webberville will face off with the Orioles from Morrice. Morrice enters the game with an 11-5 record; they won first place in the Genesee Area Conference Blue Division. Webberville enters the game with a 3-16 record.
Ryleigh Nelson is a strong defender and rebounder either in the post or on the perimeter. She can score well in the post, on putbacks or on effective slashes to the basket. Ruth Wisuri is a strong perimeter defender who passes well and runs the point for the Spartans. Abby Vogel is an energetic defender.
Kalista Matiyow is a fine three point shooter and energetic perimeter defense. Katelyn Banning is a solid ball handler who helps defend the perimeter. Hayley Williams and Mackenzie Langham are good post defenders.
For Morrice, Audrey Rogers is an athletic player who defends well either on the perimeter or in the post. She is excellent slashing to the basket and is a big threat to score on slashes to the basket; she can also hit the three point shot. She also has a fine basketball IQ as she used her athletic ability to make a really smart play at the end that clinched Morrice’s win against a strong Carson City-Crystal team.
Abi Beem is an athletic player that scores well, handles the ball well and defends well on the perimeter. She is a good three point shooter as well. Lily Nowak is a threat to steal the ball from any ball handler at any time. She has amazing hands and feet. Makenzie Doerner handles the ball a lot for the Orioles and has a great basketball IQ. She always knows where to be on offense and defense and really moves the ball well.
Kaylee McGowan is a fine defender and rebound in the post. Mallory Munro is a strong perimeter defender and an accurate midrange shooter.
It is now time to look at the results of this game through the blurry lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the ancient times. Alas, it was too late before he realized his coach was not complimenting him when he spoke of his matador defense. (That may send some younger people to Google.) I later learned that my coach felt it was especially egregious when I shouted “Ole” as the person I was supposed to be guarded bolted past me as I waved at him.
Webberville wins the opening tap. Aubrey Rogers knocks the ball out of bounds; Webberville retains possession. Aubrey Rogers steals the ball for the Orioles; Morrice misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Webberville misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. Morrice misses a fast break layup. Aubrey Rogers steals a Spartan pass and hits a fast break layup to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.
Aubrey Rogers steals the ball for the Orioles. Mallory Munro passes to Aubrey Rogers, who spins and hits a layup for Morrice. Webberville loses the ball out of bounds against the Morrice press. Makenzie Doerner steals the ball and passes to Abi Beem, who hits a ten foot shot from the side to give Morrice a 6-0 lead.
Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice is assessed with a traveling violation. Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice again. Ryleigh Nelson gets her hand on the ball and the Orioles lose the ball out of bounds. Mallory Munro steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice misses a jumper. Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. (Fortunately, she’s doing all this thievery in the open on the basketball court, so I guess I don’t need to contact the authorities!)
Morrice misses a threeball from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Orioles get another opportunity. Morrice misses a threeball from the side and Ryleigh Nelson blocks an Oriole putback. Abi Beem steals the ball and passes to Makenzie Doerner, who is fouled on a layup and hits both her free throws to give her Orioles an 8-0 lead with 4:36 to play in the first quarter.
Aubrey Rogers steals the ball for Morrice and passes to Abi Beem for an Oriole layup. Webberville misses a layup. Morrice misfires on a triple try from the side. Savannah Miles steals the ball for the Orioles. Mallory Munro passes to Aubrey Rogers, who hits a layup for Morrice. Webberville misses a layup; Allison Bliesner hits a putback to give Webberville its first points. Morrice leads 12-2.
Morrice is assessed with a traveling violation. Webberville misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Morrice misses a driving layup. Webberville misses a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side. Aubrey Rogers gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side. Aubrey Rogers hits a putback to give her Orioles a 14-2 lead.
Savannah Miles steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice throws a too fast break pass too far and out of bounds. Webberville is cited for a double dribble violation. Morrice misses a three point attempt from the side. Savannah Miles hits a putback to give Morrice a 16-2 lead.
Webberville misses a layup. Morrice misses a three point attempt from the side. Abi Beem steals the ball for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup. Abi Beem snags the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a three pointer from the side. Webberville misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Morrice misses a three pointer from the corner. Morrice’s press forces a Webberville traveling violation. Morrice misses a ten foot shot from the side.
Abi Beem gets her hand on the ball and Webberville loses it out of bounds. Morrice is assessed with a traveling violation. Mallory Munro gets her hand on the ball, but Webberville recovers. The Morrice defense forces a turnover when Webberville fails to inbound the ball in five seconds. Mallory Munro passes to Albri Larner, who hits a three point shot from the side at the buzzer.
After one quarter, Morrice has a 19-2 lead.
Morrice inbounds the ball to start the second quarter. The Orioles miss a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Webberville takes possession. The Spartans miss a fifteen foot shot from the side. Morrice misses a threeball from the side. Savannah Miles pulls down the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup and fouls on the rebound.
Webberville misses a shot; Hayley Williams grabs the offensive rebound for the Spartans. Webberville misses a layup. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side; the Orioles get the offensive rebound. Morrice misses a three point attempt from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Spartans take possession. Makenzie Doerner’s tough defense forces a Webberville traveling violation. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side.
Mallory Munro dives and ties up the ball for Morrice. The Possession Arrow was playing Scrabble on line and missed the play; the ball is awarded to Webberville. The Spartans are fouled, but miss the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Morrice loses a pass out of bounds. Lily Nowak ties up the ball; after Twitter erupted because the Possession Arrow missed the last tie up call, the Possession Arrow was fully aware of the play and awarded Morrice the ball. Abi Beem is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Morrice a 20-2 lead with 5:15 to play in the second quarter.
Lily Nowak steals the ball and passes to Abi Beem, who hits a layup for the Orioles. Webberville misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Kalista Matiyow is fouled on the rebound and hits one of her two free throws for the Spartans. With 4:46 to play in the second quarter, Morrice has a 22-3 lead.
Alison Bliesner ties up the ball for Webberville. The Possession Arrow is impressed with her hustle and awards the ball to the Spartans. Abi Beem steals the ball for the Orioles. Morrice misses a fast break layup. Webberville misses a jumper; Mackenzie Langham pulls down the offensive rebound for the Spartans. Morrice misfires on a triple try from the wing. Katelyn Banning passes to Mackenzie Langham, who is fouled on a layup. Mackenzie Langham hits one of her two free throws; with 3:55 to play in the second quarter, Morrice has a 22-4 lead.
Morrice misses a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Sydney Wyzga blocks a Webberville fast break layup. The rebound is tied up; the Possession Arrow decrees that Morrice shall have the ball. Abi Beem passes to Aubrey Rogers, who hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side for Morrice. Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice.
The Orioles miss a three point shot. Lily Nowak grabs the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup. Abi Beem gets the offensive rebound; Morrice misses a jump shot. Aubrey Rogers gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles; Morrice misses a three point shot. Aubrey Rogers gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles; Morrice is assessed with a traveling violation. Lily Nowak knocks the ball out of bounds; Webberville gets the ball back. Abi Beem’s tough defense causes a Webberville traveling violation. Abi Beem hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side to give Morrice a 26-4 lead.
Abi Beem steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice misses a three point shot from the wing. Webberville fouls on the rebound. Makenzie Doerner inbounds the ball to Kaylee McGowan, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Morrice. Webberville misses a layup and Mackenzie Langham is fouled on a putback. She makes one of her two free throws. With 1:08 to play in the first half, Morrice has a 27-5 lead.
Morrice misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Webberville turns the ball over against the Morrice press. Morrice misses a driving layup. Aubrey Rogers gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a three point shot from the wing. Lily Nowak knocks the ball away from Webberville; Abi Beem picks it up for the Orioles and hits a fast break layup just before the buzzer sounds.
At halftime, Morrice has a 29-5 lead.
Mackenzie Langham and Allison Bliesner led Webberville’s scoring with 2 points each.
For Morrice, Abi Beem has 11 points and Aubrey Rogers has 10 points.
In an attempt to provide some halftime entertainment, I hope to wish Good Vibrations on both teams with this video from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo
Webberville has the ball to commence the third quarter. (Every so often, your Bleacher Denizen tries to prove that he’s literate by using high falutin’ words like “commence.”) Makenzie Doerner steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice misses a driving eight foot banked shot. Abi Beem steals the ball for Morrice. Aubrey Rogers passes to Makenzie Doerner, who hits a layup for the Orioles. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to give her Orioles a 32-5 lead with 7:08 to play in the third quarter.
Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. Kalista Matiyow knocks a pass out of bounds; the Orioles retain possession. Morrice misses a layup. Mallory Munro gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Makenzie Doerner hits a threeball from the side for Morrice. Aubrey Rogers steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Morrice. Abi Beem steals the ball and passes to Makenzie Doerner, who hits a fast break layup to give Morrice a 39-5 lead.
Webberville misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Ruth Wisuri gets the offensive rebound for the Spartans. Webberville misses a layup. Morrice misses a layup. Abi Beem gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. She hits a layup, is fouled and hits her free throw to give MOrrice a 42-5 lead with 5:31 to play in the quarter.
Abi Beem steals a Spartan pass, but her momentum carries her out of bounds. Webberville misses a ten foot shot from the side. Ryleigh Nelson hits a putback for Webberville and is fouled, but misses her free throw. Morrice loses a pass out of bounds. Abi Beem ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow likes her defensive aggression and awards the ball to the Orioles. Abi Beem passes to Mallory Munro, who throws in a threeball from the wing to give Morrice a 45-7 lead.
Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. Allison Bliesner steals the ball for Webberville. Mallory Munro steals the ball for Morrice. The Bleacher Denizen worries that he should be reporting this crime wave to the authorities. Aubrey Rogers is indifferent to the Bleacher Denizen’s angst and throws a full court pass to Abi Beem, who is fouled on a layup. Abi Beem makes two free throws to give Morrice a 47-7 lead with 3:53 to play in the third quarter.
Abi Been steals a Webberville pass and is fouled in the process. Morrice misses a three pointer from the wing. Savannah Miles pulls down the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Webberville takes possession. Webberville is whistled for carrying the ball. Morrice misses a three point shot from the wing. Savannah Miles gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup. Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. Mackenzie Langham hits a putback for the Spartans. At this point, Morrice has a 47-9 lead.
Abi Beem passes to Makenzie Doerner, who hits a sixteen foot shot from the wing for Morrice. Abi Beem knocks the ball away from Webberville and Makenzie Doerner picks it up for Morrice. Makenzie Doerner passes to Abi Beem for an Oriole fast break layup. Albri Larner steals the ball for Morrice and passes to Abi Beem for a Morrice fast break layup. Webberville commits an offensive foul just before the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.
After three quarters, Morrice has a 53-9 lead.
Webberville inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. Mallory Munro and Lily Nowak double team a Webberville ball handler, who steps out of bounds. Morrice misses an eighteen foot shot from the side; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Orioles get another opportunity. Kaleah Valera steals the ball for Webberville. Aubrey Rogers steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice misses a layup. Mallory Munro steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice is fouled and misses the first shot in a one and one opportunity. With 6:23 remaining in the game, Morrice has a 53-9 lead.
Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice misses a fast break layup. Lily Nowak steals the ball for Morrice. Aubrey Rogers passes to Lily Nowak, who hits a jump shot from the free throw elbow for Morrice. Mallory Munro steals the ball and passes to Aubrey Rogers, who hits a fast break layup to push the Oriole lead to 57-9.
Mallory Munro learns why more people do “headers” in soccer than in basketball as she heads the ball, and then collects the ball. Morrice is fouled, but misses the first shot in a one and one opportunity. Savannah Miles hits a putback for Morrice. Stella Wilder passes to a Spartan teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses both her free throws. With about 3:10 remaining in the game, Morrice has a 59-9 lead.
Stella Wilder knocks the ball away from Morrice and Kalista Matiyow picks it up for Webberville. Kalista Matiyow is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for the Spartans. Mackenzie Langham hits a putback for the Spartans. Morrice misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Makenzie Doerner steals the ball for Morrice. Morrice mislaunches a threeball from the wing. Webberville loses the ball out of bounds. Mallory Munro passes to Makenzie Doerner, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Morrice a 62-12 lead.
Abi Beem steals the ball for the Orioles; Morrice misses a layup. Katelyn Banning is fouled and hits one of two free throws in a one and one opportunity for Webberville with 46.9 seconds left in the game. Morrice misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. Albri Larner pulls down the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice dribbles out the clock.
Morrice wins 62-13 and advances to play Fowler in Wednesday’s district semifinal game.
Mackenzie Langham led the Webberville scoring with 6 points. Ryleigh Nelson, Kalista Matiyow and Allison Bliesner each added 2 points. Katelyn Banning tallied 1 point.
Abi Beem led the Morrice scoring with 20 points. Makenzie Doerner supported her teammate with 15 points. Aubrey Rogers joined her teammates in double figures with 14 points. Savannah Miles scored 4 points. Albri Larner and Mallory Munro each added 3 points. Lily Nowak put in 2 points and Kaylee McGowan had 1 point.