Saginaw Swan Valley at Frankenmuth – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 6, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight your Bleacher Denizen is heading to his Alma Mater, Frankenmuth to watch the Eagles host the Vikings from Swan Valley in a girls/boys basketball doubleheader. As you may have guessed from the title, this article is about the girls’ game.

I guess while we wait for this game to start, we can listen to an old Western tune from my You Tube Channel. One can wonder why I’m doing Western music when my drive from Lansing took me to the east, but maybe I’m just feeling a bit contrary today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPaiHsbOnA

Frankenmuth and Swan Valley each have a 5-1 record entering this game.

Swan Valley Coach Kelly Miller provided me with the following background information about her Viking players.

Ivy Woods brings a lot of energy to the Viking perimeter defense. Rachel Resio is a fine leader from her point guard position. She is a great ball handler, passer and scorer who can slash to the basket or snipe away from the three point line. Sydney Kuhn plays a lot in the post, but she gives the Vikings another slasher and three point threat. Grace Gilbert is another scorer who can slash to the basket or shoot from the three point line. Claire Fordney is a good leader and fine defender either in the post or on the perimeter. She gives the Vikings another solid three point shooter.

Mackenzie Morgan brings a lot of quickness and energy to the Viking perimeter defense. Makayla Taylor is a freshman with a good outside shot and great work ethic. Piper Feldotte screens well and is a tough rebounder. Aida Karst is a steady player who makes few mistakes. Emily Zolinski is a strong mid-range shooter and solid rebounder. Madison Morgan is a post player who rebounds and passes well.

Frankenmuth Coach Joe Jacobs provided this information about his Eagle players.

Lexi Boyke is one of the finest interior players in Michigan and has signed to play at Central Michigan University this year. She is an excellent rebounder and defender in the post. She is a versatile scorer who is comfortable in the post or shooting from the three point line. Mia McLaughlin is a junior who has already agreed to play at Ferris State University. She is a tough perimeter defender who can score by slashing to the basket or hitting three point shots.

Clare Conzelmann is a sophomore who is excellent with her perimeter defense. She also slashes to the basket and shoots three point shots well. Rosemary Brenner is a smart player who runs the point for the Eagles. She is a pass first point guard who is an excellent perimeter defender. Amy Kern is a fine defender and rebounder in the post.

Izzy Bernthal is an excellent rebounder who shoots three point shots well and brings a lot of energy to the Eagle defense. Kierstyn Bully is a super quick point guard who defends well on the perimeter and can slash to the basket. Ella Persails and Tiffany Keller are good three point shooters.

Also helping to bring this game to you is veteran TV Reporter Michael Redford who will use his golden throat to announce the game to those attending at the Frankenmuth gym.

It is now time to look at the events of this game through the aging lenses of an ancient Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore when he was considered to be “young.” Alas, he was showing promise as an outside shooter, but when the basketball powers that be decided to ban catapults from the floor, his outside shooting and indeed his basketball career went on a never-ending downward spiral.

Frankenmuth wins the opening tap. Rosemary Brenner passes to Amy Kern, who pours in a jumper from the free throw elbow to give the Eagles the first points of the game. Swan Valley misses a jumper from the free throw line. Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the side. Mia McLaughlin steals the ball for the Eagles and hits a fast break layup. Claire Fordney fires a pass to Sydney Kuhn, who hits a three point shot from the side to trim the Frankenmuth lead to 4-3.

Grace Gilbert steals the ball for the Vikings. Mia McLaughlin and Rosemary Brenner hustle back to force a Swan Valley turnover before the Vikings can shoot. Claire Fordney knocks the ball away from Frankenmuth and Sydney Kuhn picks it up for Swan Valley. The Vikings miss a layup, but Ivy Woods snares the offensive rebound. Swan Valley misses a layup. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Swan Valley takes possession.

The Vikings misfire on a threeball from the side. Grace Gilbert gets the offensive rebound for Swan Valley. The Vikings are assessed with a traveling violation. Frankenmuth misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Lexi Boyke gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Swan Valley misses a three point shot from the wing. Mackenzie Morgan gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Izzy Bernthal steals a Viking pass. Frankenmuth misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The Bleacher Denizen is starting to miss seeing the ball go through the basket.

Mia McLaughlin steals the ball for Frankenmuth. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the corner. Izzy Bernthal fights hard for the rebound, but Swan Valley finally secures the ball after a scrum on the floor and calls timeout to maintain their possession. Lexi Boyke knocks a pass out of bounds; Swan Valley retains possession. Sydney Kuhn passes to a teammate who is fouled on a driving layup, but misses both her free throws. With 2:46 to play in the first quarter, the score remains Frankenmuth 4 Swan Valley 3.

Rachel Resio gets her hand on an Eagle pass, but Frankenmuth is able to recover. The Eagles miss a threeball from the wing. Izzy Bernthal pulls down the offensive rebound for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth turns the ball over. Swan Valley misses a three point shot from the corner. Sydney Kuhn gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Lexi Boyke dashes from the lane out to the three point line to block a Viking corner triple try. The ball goes out of bounds and the Vikings get another opportunity.

Clare Conzelmann’s defense forces a Swan Valley traveling violation. Kierstyn Bully passes to Izzy Bernthal, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Frankenmuth. Claire Fordney tosses in a trey from the top of the key for Swan Valley to trim the Frankenmuth lead to 7-6.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Tiffany Keller knocks the ball away from Swan Valley and Clare Conzelmann picks it up for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Mia McLaughlin blocks a Viking layup; the ball goes out of bounds and the Eagles get it. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Claire Fordney passes to Rachel Resio, who hits a layup at the buzzer for Swan Valley.

After one quarter, Swan Valley has an 8-7 lead.

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to start out the second quarter. Rachel Resio steals a Frankenmuth pass into the lane. Tiffany Keller steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Clare Conzelmann inbounds the ball to Mia McLaughlin, who sinks a triple from the corner for the Eagles to give them a 10-8 lead.

Swan Valley misses a six foot hook shot. Frankenmuth misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Swan Valley misses a threeball from the wing; the rebound bounces off the top of the backboard and out of bounds to Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Swan Valley misses a ten footer from the baseline. Sydney Kuhn gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Swan Valley misses a layup. Mia McLaughlin passes to Clare Conzelmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner to push Frankenmuth to a 13-8 lead.

Clare Conzelmann steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Mia McLaughlin passes to Izzy Bernthal, who strokes a successful three point shot from the corner for Frankenmuth. Swan Valley travels as a hook shot in the lane is attempted. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Amy Kern gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 4:34 remaining in the first half, Frankenmuth has a 16-8 lead.

Swan Valley misses a layup. Rachel Resio gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Sydney Kuhn sinks a fifteen foot shot from the wing for the Vikings. Sydney Kuhn steals an Eagle pass. Clare Conzelmann knocks the ball away from Swan Valley and causes a scrum on the floor. Swan Valley finally recovers the ball, but then throws a pass out of bounds. Amy Kern passes to Ella Persails, who hits a three point shot from the corner to boost the Eagle lead to 19-10.

Swan Valley misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Frankenmuth travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches are interesting; I’m not sure how newsworthy traveling without the ball would be.) Lexi Boyke steals a Viking pass. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Swan Valley takes possession. Rachel Resio drives and hits a ten foot shot from the side of the lane to trim the Eagle lead to 19-12.

Grace Gilbert draws an offensive foul from the Eagles. Ella Persails steals the ball and passes to Clare Conzelmann, who hits a fast break layup for Frankenmuth. Swan Valley misses a driving layup. Frankenmuth reciprocates and misses a driving layup just before the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

Frankenmuth has a 21-12 lead at halftime.

Sydney Kuhn leads the Swan Valley scoring with 5 points at halftime.

Izzy Bernthal has 6 points for Frankenmuth. Mia McLaughlin and Clare Conzelmann each have 5 points.

As there is no entertainment at halftime, perhaps we can listen to a bit of Boogie Woogie from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot near the top of the key. Tiffany Keller snags the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses an eight foot shot from the side of the lane. Rachel Resio passes to Sydney Kuhn, who hits a threeball from the top of the key to shave the Frankenmuth lead to 21-15.

Frankenmuth misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. Swan Valley gets whistled for traveling. Frankenmuth reciprocates and gets whistled for traveling. Clare Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Mia McLaughlin makes a fine dribble move and drives in for an Eagle layup. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to boost the Eagle lead to 24-15 with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter.

Rosemary Brenner gets her hand on the ball and causes Swan Valley to lose it out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a layup; Swan Valley fouls on the rebound. Mia McLaughlin finds Lexi Boyke cutting hard to the basket and passes her the ball for an Eagle layup. Swan Valley misfires on a triple try from the side. Rosemary Brenner passes to Mia McLaughlin, who hits a three pointer from the corner to give the Eagles a 29-15 lead.

Rachel Resio passes to Mackenzie Morgan, who hits a layup for the Vikings. Frankenmuth misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Lexi Boyke knocks the ball out of bounds; Swan Valley retains possession. Clare Conzelmann knocks the ball away from Swan Valley, but Sydney Kuhn hustles into the backcourt to save the Viking possession. Swan Valley misses a droving ten foot shot in the lane. Tiffany Keller hits a three point shot from the corner to give Frankenmuth a 32-17 lead.

Lexi Boyke blocks a Viking layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Swan Valley gets it back. Rachel Resio passes to Sydney Kuhn, who hits a three point shot from the side for Swan Valley. Sydney Kuhn stands tall in the lane to force a Frankenmuth traveling violation on a drive to the basket. Swan Valley misses a fifteen foot shot from the side.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Kierstyn Bully gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth travels on a drive to the basket. Swan Valley is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 29.9 seconds to play in the third quarter, Frankenmuth has a 32-20 lead.

Frankenmuth fouls on the rebound from the missed free throw. Swan Valley misses an eight foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Frankenmuth gets the ball. Sydney Kuhn steals the ball for the Vikings. Rachel Resio drives and hits a layup for Swan Valley at the buzzer.

With three quarters in the books, Frankenmuth has a 32-22 lead.

Swan Valley inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Vikings miss a fifteen foot shot from the side. Clare Conzelmann passes to Lexi Boyke, who quickly relays the ball to Mia McLaughlin, who drains a three point shot from the corner for the Eagles. Amy Kern stands tall in the lane and forces Swan Valley into a traveling violation on a drive to the hoop. Claire Fordney steals the ball for Swan Valley. The Vikings lose the ball out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the wing. Swan Valley misses a jumper from the free throw line. Mia McLaughlin is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws. With 6:12 left on the clock, the Frankenmuth lead is at 36-22.

Swan Valley misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Grace Gilbert gets the offensive rebound for the Vikings. Rachel Resio hits a three point shot from the wing for Swan Valley. Claire Fordney steals the ball for the Vikings. Rachel Resio hits a three point shot from the wing to slash the Eagle lead to 36-28.

Frankenmuth struggles with Swan Valley’s press and turns the ball over. Rachel Resio passes to Claire Fordney, who hits a jumper from the free throw line for the Vikings. Rachel Resio steals the ball for the Vikings and is fouled on a fast break layup. She sinks two free throws to shop the Eagle lead to 36-32 with 4:45 remaining in the game. Swan Valley has scored the last ten points in a row!

Kierstyn Bully passes to Tiffany Keller, who hits a three point shot from the wing to snap the Viking scoring streak. Rachel Resio hits a twelve footer off the dribble from the side for Swan Valley. Frankenmuth misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Mia McLaughlin knocks the ball away from Swan Valley and Clare Conzelmann grabs it for Frankenmuth. Grace Gilbert knocks a Frankenmuth pass out of bounds; the Eagles retain possession. Frankenmuth is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 2:34 to play, Frankenmuth holds a 39-34 lead.

Mia McLaughlin’s tough defense forces a Viking traveling violation. Frankenmuth misses a fast break layup. Ivy Woods passes to Rachel Resio, who banks in an eight footer from the side to cut Frankenmuth’s lead to three points. Tiffany Keller passes to Lexi Boyke, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Frankenmuth a 40-36 lead with 1:11 to go.

Tiffany Keller steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Clare Conzelmann steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Rachel Resio passes to Sydney Kuhn, who drains a threeball from the corner with 13.2 seconds left to chop the Frankenmuth lead to 40-39.

Mia McLaughlin is fouled and hits two free throws for Frankenmuth with just 8.7 seconds left. Swan Valley is not able to shoot before time expires.

Frankenmuth withstands a furious Swan Valley comeback to win this game by a 42-39 score.

Rachel Resio and Sydney Kuhn each had 16 points to lead Swan Valley’s scoring. Claire Fordney added 5 points and Mackenzie Morgan tallied 2 points.

Mia McLaughlin led the victorious Eagles with 17 points. Izzy Bernthal and Tiffany Keller each supported her with 6 points. Clare Conzelmann added 5 points. Ella Persails and Lexi Boyke each put in 3 points. Amy Kern had 2 points.

These teams also played a boys’ game tonight. Here is the play by play of that game!! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/01/07/swan-valley-at-frankenmuth-boys-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-january-6-2023-by-chuck-krafft/