Webberville vs. Portland St. Patrick – – MHSAA Boys District Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen March 9, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen continues on with his Fowler-centric week. Tuesday and Thursday are devoted to following the Fowler Eagle girls in their Regional Tournament while Monday, Wednesday and Friday are actually being spent in Fowler covering the District Tournament.

In the first game of the night, the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick will play the Spartans from Webberville. The Shamrocks from St. Patrick beat Morrice Monday night to advance to this game. For those of you who may have missed it, here is a play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/03/08/morrice-vs-portland-st-patrick-mhsaa-boys-district-first-round-the-bleacher-denizen-march-7-2022-by-chuck-krafft/

The Shamrocks enter this game with a 3-17 record, but it was in the rugged CMAC where there are only two other Division 4 teams. Shane Cook is a versatile player who is tall enough to rebound and defend in the post, but quick and agile enough to defend on the perimeter. He can hit outside shots and his athletic ability makes it difficult to stop him when he goes to the basket. Braxton Teachworth is an excellent leaper who is an excellent defender and rebounder near the basket. He is a threat to score on putbacks.

Alex Fedewa defends the post and rebounds well; he is also a threat from the three point line. Cole Kinsman runs the point for the Shamrocks; he is a good ball handler and a committed perimeter defender. Derec Fedewa is athletic and can score either on a jump shot or a slash to the basket. Brayden Simon is an athletic freshman who is a fine shooter from the perimeter and can also get to the basket. Payton Russman defends on the perimeter and slashes well to the basket.

The Webberville Spartans enter the game with a 15-5 record. Nate Lott is an all-state caliber player who is strong at all facets of the game. He is tall enough, persistent enough and athletic enough to defend on the perimeter or in the post. He is a skilled ball handler and passer. He is almost impossible to stop when he slashes to the basket to score or to dish to a teammate. He is also a solid shooter from the three point line.

Kolson Lycos is a player with a supreme motor. He never stops hustling on offense or defense. On offense, he has a fine three point shot; he slashes to the basket so fiercely that anyone who dares to take a charging foul pays a price. Caleb Howard is a strong perimeter defender who slashes to the basket well. Riley Kingsley scores well and rebounds well in the lane. On offense he runs the fast break well and can get hot from the three point line.

Max Mills backs down from no one when defending on the perimeter. Unfortunately, Shane Abner and Tate Mills, who played huge roles earlier are out for the season for health-related reasons.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally clear 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. Alas,, while he had a brilliant idea about stuffing a magnet into a basketball to help his field goal percentages, the basketball powers that be shot him down.

St. Patrick wins the opening tap. Cole Kinsman passes to Brayden Simon, who hits a three point shot from the corner for the Shamrocks. Kolson Lycos passes to Riley Kingsley for a Webberville layup. St. Patrick (actually a Shamrock player, not the saint, himself) drives the baseline and misses a layup. Nate Lott passes to Riley Kingsley, who hits a layup for Webberville. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Braxton Teachworth soars and tips the ball in for St. Patrick. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 6:22 to play in the first quarter, the Shamrocks have a 5-4 lead.

Cole Kinsman steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. Nate Lott passes to Kolson Lycos, who hits a layup to give the Spartans a one point lead. Riley Kingsley steals the ball for Webberville. The Spartans pass the ball out of bounds. Caleb Howard steals the ball for Webberville and hits a fast break layup to give the Spartans an 8-5 lead.

Derec Fedewa passes to Shane Cook, who hits a threeball from the side for the Shamrocks to tie the game. Webberville misses a layup. Nate Lott draws a charging foul from the Shamrocks. Shane Cook knocks the ball away from Webberville; Nate Lott has to retreat into the backcourt to recover the ball for the Spartans. Webberville is assessed with a traveling violation. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds.

Derec Fedewa knocks a Spartan pass into the lane out of bounds. Webberville retains possession. The Spartans miss a reverse layup. Garrett Goodwin gets the offensive rebound for the Spartans. Webberville misses a ten foot shot from the baseline; the rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. Riley Kingsley knocks the ball away from St. Patrick and Nate Lott grabs it for Webberville. The Spartans misfire on a threeball from the corner. Cole Kinsman passes to Brayden Simon, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give the Shamrocks an 11-8 lead.

Webberville misfires on a threeball from the wing. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. Derec Fedewa drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw. With 3:03 to go in the first quarter, St. Patrick has a 14-8 lead.

Webberville is whistled for an over and back violation. Kolson Lycos gets his hand on the Shamrock inbound pass; they lose it out of bounds and Webberville gets the ball. The Spartans miss a three point shot from the wing. St. Patrick misses a ten foot shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get the ball back. Cole Kinsman is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to push the Shamrock lead to 16-8 with 2:10 left on the first quarter clock.

Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. Nate Lott gets the offensive rebound and hits his second putback for Webberville. Caleb Howard steals the ball for the Spartans. Webberville is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Caleb Howard steals the ball for Webberville. The Spartans miss a layup. Garrett Goodwin takes a charging foul from the Shamrocks. Webberville misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Caleb Howard gets the offensive rebound. Garrett Goodwin hits a layup for Webberville to trim the Shamrock lead to 16-12.

St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Kolson Lycos hits a layup for Webberville. St. Patrick drives and dishes the ball out of bounds. Max Mills passes to a teammate who is fouled before he can shoot a layup; Webberville gets the ball back. Shane Cook steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a rushed three point shot from the wing at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Webberville holds a 16-12 lead.

Webberville inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Max Mills passes to Nate Lott, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give his Spartans a one point lead. Garrett Goodwin steals the ball for Webberville and delivers a behind the back pass to Nate Lott, who hits a layup for the Spartans. Caleb Howard blocks a Shamrock shot; St. Patrick recovers and misses a three point shot from the side. Webberville misses a threeball from the wing; Kolson Lycos is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give Webberville a 20-16 lead with 6:36 remaining in the first half.

St. Patrick loses a pass out of bounds. Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. Max Mills wins a scramble for the rebound, but Webberville commits an offensive foul shortly after that. Shane Cook drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Shane Cook steals the ball and hits a layup for the Shamrocks to tie the game at 20-20.

Webberville misses a fifteen footer from the baseline and the Shamrocks foul on the rebound. Cole Kinsman steals the ball for the Shamrocks; St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Nate Lott is fouled on a layup. He hits one of his two free throws to give Webberville a 21-20 lead with 5:01 to go in the second quarter.

St. Patrick misfires on a triple try from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Webberville takes possession. Garrett Goodwin passes to Nate Lott, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Webberville. Caleb Howard steals the ball for the Spartans. Garrett Goodwin throws in a threeball from the wing to give Webberville a 30-22 lead.

St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Brayden Simon pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Cole Kinsman passes to Derec Fedewa, who connects on a threeball from the side for the Shamrocks. Webberville loses that ball and there is a scramble. Nate Lott is fouled and hits both ends of a one and one opportunity to give Webberville a 32-25 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first half.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Kolson Lycos hits a fast break layup for the Spartans. Caleb Howard knocks the ball out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Derec Fedewa hits a three pointer from the corner to trim the Webberville lead to 34-28.

Webberville loses a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a three point attempt from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and Webberville takes possession . Kolson Lycos bounces an inbound pass to Nate Lott, who hits a layup for the Spartans. Shane Cook gets into the lane and is fouled on an eight foot shot. He hits one of his two free throws to shave the Webberville lead to 36-29 with 1:37 remaining in the half.

Webberville misses a threeball from the top of the key. Kolson Lycos blocks a Shamrock layup; St. Patrick recovers the loose ball. St. Patrick misses a short hook shot. Nate Lott is fouled on the rebound and hits two free throws for Webberville. Brayden Simon passes to Shane Cook, who cans a jumper from the free throw elbow for St. Patrick. Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. Shane Cook hits a threeball from the top of the key to cut the Webberville lead to 38-34.

Webberville misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Garrett Goodwin hits a putback for Webberville. Garrett Goodwin blocks a Shamrock layup. Webberville does not have time before the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

At halftime, Webberville holds a 40-34 lead.

Shane Cook has 13 points to lead the St. Patrick halftime scoring. Derec Fedewa has 9 points and Brayden Simon has 8 points.

Nate Lott leads Webberville’s halftime scoring with 20 points. Kolson Lycos and Garrett Goodwin each have 7 points.

As there is no halftime entertainment, I’ll provide this religious original song from my “Chuck Krafft” You Tube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VZVsmJwchY

St. Patrick has the ball to begin the third quarter. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Braxton Teachworth pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Braxton Teachworth gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Brayden Simon grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup. Nate Lott hits a driving layup to give Webberville a 42-34.

Nate Lott blocks a Shamrock layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Webberville gets the ball. The Spartans misfires on a threeball from the wing. Riley Kingsley gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Webberville misses a jump shot. Riley Kingsley hits a putback for Webberville. Cole Kinsman passes to Derec Fedewa, who hits a layup for St. Patrick. Brayden Simon steals the ball for St. Patrick. Max Mills steals the ball for Webberville and hits a fast break layup to give the Spartans a 46-36 lead.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Nate Lott is fouled on a scooping layup and hits two free throws for Webberville. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get the ball back. St. Patrick misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Kolson Lycos drives and hits a layup to extend the Spartan lead to 50-36.

St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Webberville misses a layup; the Spartans get the offensive rebound. Webberville misses a three point shot from the side. Caleb Howard harasses a Shamrock pass catcher and St. Patrick loses the ball out of bounds. Webberville misses a threeball from the corner. Kolson Lycos gets the offensive rebound for the Spartans. Webberville misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Riley Kingsley is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to boost the Webberville lead to 52-36 with 3:52 to go in the third quarter.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Webberville misses a three point shot near the top of the key. St. Patrick is fouled on a ten foot shot in the lane, but misses two free throws. Riley Kingsley passes to Kolson Lycos, who hits a layup for the Spartans. Nate Lott gets a steal and hits a layup to give the Spartans a 56-36 lead.

Landon Simpson passes to a teammate who is fouled on a twelve foot shot form the side. The Shamrocks miss two free throws. Webberville misses a six foot shot from the baseline. Shane Cook hits a twelve foot shot in the lane for the Shamrocks. Alex Fedewa steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Shane Cook launches a long three point shot past the top of the key and hits it to trim the Spartan lead to 56-41.

Shane Cook steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Landon Simpson grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Nate Lott steals the ball and hits a layup for Webberville. St. Patrick misses a jump shot. Webberville misses an eight foot shot from the side. St. Patrick sets an illegal pick and is called for an offensive foul. Caleb Howard passes to Nate Lott, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Webberville a 61-41 lead.

Derec Fedewa drives and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Webberville misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Garrett Goodwin blocks a Shamrock layup. Brayden Simon grabs the loose ball and is fouled on a layup. He hits two free throws with .5 seconds to go in the quarter. Webberville misses a 70 foot heave at the buzzer.

After three quarters, Webberville has a 61-45 lead.

Webberville has the ball to commence the fourth quarter. (Occasionally, your Bleacher Denizen likes to use high-falutin’ words in an attempt to appear to be literate.) Webberville ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s literary pretensions and begins to move the ball. Webberville misses a three point shot from the corner. Alex Fedewa is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Spartan lead to 61-46 with 7:42 to play in the game.

Webberville throws a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Spartans get the ball. Riley Kingsley passes to Kolson Lycos, who hits a three pointer from the corner for the Spartans. St. Patrick misses a reverse layup. Brayden Simon tips a Spartan pass; the ball goes out of bounds and Webberville gets it back. Shane Cook knocks a Spartan pass out of bounds and Webberville gets it back.

Webberville misfires on a threeball from the corner. Caleb Howard blocks a Shamrock layup. Webberville misses a six foot shot in the lane. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. Nate Lott steals the ball for the Spartans. He hits a fast break layup and is fouled on the play. He misses his free throw but the long offensive bounces perfectly like a pass to a three point shooter; Nate Lott takes advantage, catches and shoots the ball and hits a three point shot from the side to push Webberville to a 69-46 lead.

St. Patrick misses a layup. Webberville misses a layup. St. Patrick is fouled on the rebound, but misses the first shot in a one and one free throw opportunity. Webberville misses a layup. Derec Fedewa is fouled an hits both free throws in a one and one opportunity. With 5:12 remaining in the game, Webberville has a 69-48 lead.

Brayden Simon steals the ball for the Shamrocks and passes to Cole Kinsman for a Shamrock layup. Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. Riley Kingsley dives and steals the ball for the Spartans. Webberville misses a layup. Kolson Lycos hits a putback for the Spartans. Max Mills gets his hand on the ball and causes a Shamrock dribbler to travel. Webberville misses an alley-oop dunk attempt. (I’m probably revealing my age with the “alley-oop” description. Curious younger people can google it; I’m not referring to the caveman from the old comics.)

St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane. Webberville loses the ball. Alex Fedewa is fouled and hits both free throws in a one and one opportunity for St. Patrick. Riley Kingsley is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Webberville to give the Spartans a 73-52 lead with 3:39 left on the clock.

Shane Cook takes the ball into the lane and hits a twelve foot banked shot for St. Patrick. Webberville misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. Kolson Lycos steals the ball and goes coast to coast for a Spartan layup. Nate Lott steals the ball and hits a layup for Webberville to give the Spartans a 77-54 lead.

Riley Kingsley ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow ignores his fine hustle and decrees that St. Patrick shall have the ball. Derec Fedewa is fouled and hits two free throws for St. Patrick. Webberville misses a driving layup; Caleb Howard hits a putback for the Spartans. Caleb Howard steals the ball, but Webberville misses a fast break layup. Cole Kinsman is fouled and hits one of two free throws for the Shamrocks. With 2:04 remaining in the game, Webberville’s lead is at 79-57.

Cole Kinsman knocks the ball away from Webberville; after a scramble, Brayden Simon picks it up for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick loses the ball out of bounds. Webberville misfires on a threeball from the side. St. Patrick misses a layup. Webberville misses a three point shot from the side. Payton Russman drives and hits a reverse layup for St. Patrick. Landon Simpson steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a three pointer near the top of the key. Brayden Simon hits a putback at the buzzer for the Shamrocks.

Webberville wins the game 79-61 and will advance to Friday’s final against Fulton. (I guess I’m foreshadowing a bit here, obviously, while almost all of this game is in the present tense; I’m looking forward to the end of the night’s second game. Who says a mere Bleacher Denizen can’t use literary devices like foreshadowing anyway??)

Shane Cook led the St. Patrick scoring with 20 points. Derec Fedewa supported his teammate with 17 points. Brayden Simon joined his teammates in double figures with 12 points. Cole Kinsman scored 5 points. Alex Fedewa added 3 points. Payton Russman and Braxton Teachworth each tallied 2 points.

Nate Lott led Webberville with 38 points. Kolson Lycos contributed 18 points. Riley Kingsley chipped in with 10 points. Garrett Goodwin added 7 points. Caleb Howard scored 4 points and Max Mills had 2 points.

Here is a link to the other semifinal from Wednesday night; Fulton played Fowler. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2022/03/10/fulton-vs-fowler-mhsaa-boys-district-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-9-2022-by-chuck-krafft/