Fowler at Carson City-Crystal – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 5, 2022 – – by Chuck Krafft

In this video of the Red River Valley from my You Tube Channel, I note at the beginning that you never know where the Red River Valley will lead you.

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

Well, the Red River Valley does not lead to Carson City-Crystal High School. Fortunately for your Bleacher Denizen as well as the fans of the Fowler and Carson City-Crystal teams, M-57 does lead there. (Well, almost.)

Your Bleacher Denizen is excited to cover these two teams in the first boys basketball game of the Bleacher Denizen season. As you may very well guess, both teams enter the game with a 0-0 record. Also, to save wear and tear on your aging Bleacher Denizen’s aging fingers, through most of the blog, I’ll refer to Carson City-Crystal as CCC.

Kam Riley, the Fowler Coach, was really helpful with information about his players. Jacob Halfmann is a point guard extraordinaire. He was amazingly poised and confident as a freshman running his team; now with a year of experience behind him, I’m sure he’ll be even better. Athletically, he has all the skills and traits you want to see in a basketball player. He is quite tall and athletic, especially for the point guard position. He is a determined perimeter defender who can also present problems inside for the opposition. On offense, he shoots the three well, handles the ball well, gets to the basket and passes the ball well.

Nolan Stump is a third year varsity player who shoots well from the three point line and has a knack for getting open near the basket. Aaron Simon is another three point shooter. Zach Halfmann shoots the three point shot well and is an athletic defender at the forward position. Jonathan Ruiz is a strong perimeter defender. Asher Koenigsknecht is another tough perimeter defender who slashes to the basket well. Alex Halfmann, who also started as a freshman, is a sophomore who is a tough defender and rebounder near the basket.

Cory Schneider, Coach of CCC, gave me this information about his players. Mason Smith is an athletic point guard who is an excellent passer and defender. Brayden Clark is a long athletic forward. He is a fine defender and rebounder with an improving outside shot who can get to the basket. Oisin O’Grady is a good defensive guard with quickness; he is good at driving to the basket.

Max Heleski is a post player who defends and rebounds well in the post. Jacob Stevens gets a lot of steals and is really fast on the break.

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the over-seasoned eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen who never was able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. Alas, many people criticized the clunky form on his three point shot. In my defense, I’ll point out that the chain mail armor uniforms we wore in the ancient times allowed only the strongest players to shoot with nice form. (I will let you guess as to where I ranked on the “strength continuum.”)

CCC wins the opening tap. CCC misses a shot. Cole Smith taps the offensive rebound to a CCC teammate. (I apologize; some wording tonight may be a bit clunky, but both teams are nicknamed “Eagles” and thus I can’t use that to describe either team.) CCC is whistled for a traveling violation. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Aaron Simon gets the offensive rebound and hits a ten foot shot in the lane to give Fowler a 2-0 lead.

A CCC dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a threeball from the corner. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler and hits a fast break layup. Mason Smith drives and hits a layup for CCC. Jacob Halfmann inbounds to Aaron Simon, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the corner to give Fowler a 6-2 lead.

CCC misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets another opportunity. CCC misses a layup and two putbacks. Max Heleski is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to shave the Fowler lead to 6-3 with 3:51 to play in the first quarter.

Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and CCC takes possession. Asher Koenigsknecht knocks the CCC inbound pass out of bounds; CCC retains possession. Alex Halfmann blocks a CCC six foot shot from the baseline. Brayden Clark steals the ball for CCC. CCC misses a fast break layup. Mason Smith steals the ball for CCC. CCC misses a reverse layup; Brayden Clark tips in the missed who to cut Fowler’s lead to 6-5.

Mason Smith steals the ball and passes to Jacob Stevens for a fast break layup that gives CCC a one point lead. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Oisin O’Grady reacts alertly to prevent a loose ball from becoming a CCC turnover. CCC misses a layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. CCC drives into the lane, but Zach Halfmann ties up the dribbler. The Possession Arrow is impressed with Mr. Halfmann’s hustle and awards the ball to Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing as the first quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After one quarter, CCC has a 7-6 lead.

CCC has the ball to start off the second quarter. CCC misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Fowler misses an eight foot hook shot from the side of the lane. Aaron Simon draws a charging foul from CCC. Fowler is assessed with a traveling violation. CCC misses a three pointer from the corner. Fowler misses a threeball near the top of the key. Nolan Stump hits a putback to give Fowler an 8-7 lead.

Nolan Stump knocks a CCC pass out of bounds; CCC retains possession. CCC misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets another possession. Oisin O’Grady ranges into the backcourt to corral the inbound pass. CCC misses a three point shot from the corner. Mason Smith steals the ball for CCC. CCC misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets the ball back. Mason Smith drives and hits a layup for CCC. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 4:27 to play in the first half, CCC has a 9-8 lead.

Brayden Clark gets the offensive rebound from the missed free throw for CCC. Mason Smith hits a three point shot from the wing to give CCC a four point lead. Brayden Clark steals the ball for CCC. CCC misses a three point shot from the corner. Aaron Simon is fouled on an up and under layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the CCC lead to 12-9 with 3:48 to go in the first half.

Zach Halfmann steals a CCC pass. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Brayden Clark goes coast to coast and throws down a fast break jam to give CCC a 14-9 lead.

Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the side to cut the CCC lead to two points. Mason Smith inbounds the ball to Brayden Clark, who hits a layup for CCC. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. CCC misses a driving five foot bank shot; the rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets another opportunity. CCC misses a three pointer from the corner. Brayden Clark is fouled on the offensive rebound and hits both free throws of a one and one opportunity to boost CCC to an 18-12 lead with 1:12 to go in the half.

Fowler bounces a pass into the lane and out of bounds. CCC commits an offensive foul. Jacob Halfmann passes to Nolan Stump, who hits a layup just before the halftime buzzer.

CCC has an 18-14 lead at halftime.

As there is no music at halftime, maybe we can listen to this rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” from my You Tube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWFryViWd20

Now that halftime is over, we are ready for the third quarter to start. As it frequently happens in basketball games, the score at the start of the third quarter is the same as the score heading into halftime. (How does this happen??)

Fowler ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s bizarre questions and inbounds the ball to open the third quarter. Fowler misses a threeball from the top of the key. CCC passes the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a six foot hook shot in the lane. Brayden Clark passes to Gavin Reeder, who hits a reverse layup to push the CCC lead to 20-14.

Aaron Simon passes to Jacob Halfmann, who throws in a threeball from the wing to chop the CCC lead in half (down to three points.) Jonathan Ruiz knocks the ball away from a CCC dribbler and it goes out of bounds; CCC retains possession. Jonathan Ruiz knocks a CCC pass out of bounds; CCC again retains possession. Apparently, like it jokes, the third time is the charm and Aaron Simon steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to cut the CCC lead to one point at 20-19.

Alex Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Mason Smith passes to Brayden Clark, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to give CCC a 21-19 lead with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Zach Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a one point lead. Aaron Simon knocks a pass out of bounds; CCC retains possession. Asher Koenigsknecht plays tough defense on a pass receiver and CCC loses the ball out of bounds. Michael Husted steals the ball for CCC. Jacob Halfmann knocks a pass out of bounds, but CCC gets the ball back.

Aaron Simon steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a three point attempt from the side. CCC bounces a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Aaron Simon ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow is preoccupied with a Disney cartoon video, misses the play and awards the ball back to CCC. Zach Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler.

Jacob Stevens gets back quickly on defense and causes Fowler to lose the ball out of bounds. CCC misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. Mason Smith knocks a pass out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Mason Smith steals the ball for CCC. Nolan Stump steals the ball for Fowler at the buzzer.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 22-21 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to start the fourth quarter. Mason Smith steals the ball, is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to give CCC the lead just twenty-one seconds after the start of the quarter. Jonathan Ruiz finds Nolan Stump, who is cutting to the basket and passes to him for a Fowler layup to retake the lead. CCC misses a layup. Oisin O’Grady hits a putback to give CCC a one point lead. Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 27-25 lead.

CCC is whistled for an offensive foul. Jacob Stevens steals the ball for CCC. Brayden Clark hits a putback for CCC that ties the game. Mason Smith blocks a Fowler layup. Nolan Stump quickly recovers the ball and hits a layup to give the lead back to Fowler. Oisin O’Grady is fouled on a shot and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 30-28 with 4:14 left in the contest.

Alex Halfmann makes a nice post move and hits a layup for Fowler. CCC misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the sideline. A CCC inbound pass hits the side of the backboard and the ball goes to Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Cole Smith is fouled on the rebound and hits two free throws to cut the Fowler lead to 32-30 with 2:40 left on the clock.

Jacob Halfmann whips a cross court pass to Zach Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the side to boost the Fowler lead to five points. Nolan Stump draws a charging foul from CCC. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets the ball. Jacob Halfmann knocks the ball away from a dribbler and out of bounds, but CCC gets the ball back. Mason Smith, passes to Brayden Clark, who is fouled as he shoots a layup. Brayden Clark hits one of his two free throws to shave the Fowler lead to 35-31 with 1:16 remaining.

Mason Smith steals the ball and passes to Brayden Clark, who hits a fast break layup to cut the Fowler lead to two points. Fowler is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Alex Halfmann is fouled on a putback for Fowler. He hits two big free throws to extend the Fowler lead to 37-33 with 39.1 seconds to go.

CCC misses a threeball from near the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and CCC gets the ball back. Jacob Halfmann blocks a CCC layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and CCC gets it again. CCC misses a three point shot from the wing. Cole Smith gets the offensive rebound and whips the ball to Mason Smith, who hits a three point shot from the wing to chop the Fowler lead to one point at 37-36 with just 5.5 seconds left in the game.

Nolan Stump is fouled as he catches the inbound pass and hits two free throws for Fowler with just 4.3 seconds left. CCC misses a rushed three point attempt from the top of the key as the final buzzer sounds.

Fowler wins the first game of its season by a 39-36 score.

CCC’s Braden Clark led all scorers with 14 points. Mason Smith joined him in double figures with 12 points. Oisin O’Grady scored 3 points. Jacob Stevens, Gavin Reeder and Cole Smith each added 2 points.. Max Heleski tallied 1 point.

Aaron Simon led the Fowler scoring with 13 points and Nolan Stump added 11 points. Zach Halfmann had two three pointers for 6 total points. Jacob Halfmann put in 5 points and Alex Halfmann scored 4 points.