Portland at Holt – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 14, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

While I usually get caught up in a bit of grandeur about my trips to the various high school, somehow I doubt that my trip from my house near Jolly Road and Pennsylvania to Holt High merits a reference to a trek or even a journey. I was able to get to Holt High School without many problems and am eager to blog the Holt Rams as they host the Portland Raiders in Girls Basketball!!

While we get ready for the game to start, why don’t we listen to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” from my You Tube channel featuring John Rickert on trumpet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

This is my third time blogging Portland’s Raider Girls this year. Jason Haid provided me with this background information about his Raider players. Portland enters this game with a fine 7-3 record.

Malia Thelen is a fine all-around point guard who is a persistent perimeter defender. She passes well and is a fine ball-handler too. She scores either on drives to the basket or three point shots. Alexa Weber is an excellent post defender and rebounder who can also score down low. Paige Spedoske is a good shooter who uses her strength to be a solid finisher near the basket.

Malia Thelen’s freshman sister, Lily is a good ball handler who slashes well to the basket. Summer Stopcynski is an excellent defender either at the point or shooting guard position. Ella Gruber plays tough defense; she can either slash to the basket or hit the three point shot. Bella Spitzley is an active on ball defender who has a solid outside shot and can slash to the basket.
Jayden Townsend is a quick guard who makes a lot of hustle plays. Erica Russman rebounds and runs the floor well in addition to being an aggressive defender. McKenna Boykin is a forward who is tall and athletic. She is a fine rebounder. Ally Logel is currently issued, but when healthy, she provides the Raiders with more shooting and defense.

Holt Coach Tori Brooks provided me with this information about her Ram players. Holt is also having a fine season; they enter this game with an 8-2 record.

Janae Tyler, a senior who will be playing Division 1 basketball for Kent St. next year is an exemplary post player. She is athletic, has great hands for catching interior passes and grabbing rebounds and knows many post moves to free herself for easy (for her anyway) layups and close in shots. She is also a really tough interior defender and can also shoot from the three point line if that is what her team needs.

Claire Tobias is a pure point guard who handles the ball well, runs the offense and plays fine perimeter defense. Rhema Dozier is a magnificent perimeter defender who always covers the opponent’s best perimeter player. Allison Metzger is an excellent scorer who slashes to the basket well. Bailey Hosford is an excellent three point shooter. Emma Netzel, who will be attending college on a track and cross country scholarship next year is a quick and tireless defender who will harass opposing ball handlers full court.

I was able to see most of the JV game. Holt got out to an 11-4 first quarter lead and extended the lead to ten points at 17-7 at halftime. Portland outscored Holt 12-8 in the third quarter and trailed 25-19 entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Portland rallied and pulled to one point at 30-29 with about fifty seconds left in the game after a three point basket and layup (after a steal) by Claire Lyon. Holt’s Lauren Johnson and Kara Barker combined to hit four free throws before Anna Morris hit a final layup with just two seconds left. Holt held on to win the JV game 34-31.

Allie Sutberry led the Portland JVs with 9 points. Claire Lyon supported her teammate with 7 points. McKenna Boykin scored 6 points. Anna Morris added 4 points. Kennedy Snitgen added 3 points and Erica Russman tallied 2 points.

Kara Barker led the Holt JVs with 15 points. Lauren Johnson contributed 13 points and Ta’Shyra Evans put in 6 points.

It is now time to review the events of the varsity 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. The decline and end of his career was frustrating as your Bleacher Denizen showed a lot of promise at dunking the ball. All was ruined when the basketball powers-that-be decreed that the rim shall be raised from five feet to ten feet. At this point, my game was no longer relevant and I faded into the unread archives of unimportant basketball history.

Holt wins the opening tap. Bailey Hosford drives and hits a layup to give Holt the first two points of the game. Allison Metzger blocks a Portland layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Raiders get another opportunity. Rhema Dozier steals the ball for the Rams. Holt misses a fast break layup. Rhema Dozier knocks the ball away from Portland and Bailey Hosford picks it up for Holt. Bailey Hosford passes to Allison Metzger, who hits a layup for Holt. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. Holt has an early 4-0 lead.

Claire Tobias pulls down the rebound from the missed free throw for Holt. Holt misfires on a triple try from the wing. Claire Tobias gets the offense rebound for Holt. The Rams turn the ball over. Bailey Hosford blocks a Raider layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Holt takes possession. Holt misses a layup. Claire Tobias gets the offensive rebound for Holt. Allison Metzger passes to Janae Tyler, who is fouled on a six for shot in the lane and hits two free throws to boost Holt to a 6-0 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter.

Portland misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Holt takes possession. Malia Thelen knocks the ball out of bounds; Holt retains possession. Holt misses a ten foot shot from the side. Janae Tyler hits a putback for Holt. Portland misses a threeball near the top of the key. Alexa Weber steals the ball for the Raiders. Janae Tyler blocks a Raider layup. Portland retrieves the loose ball, but misses a three pointer from the wing. Malia Thelen snares the offensive rebound for the Raiders.

Portland misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Malia Thelen grabs another offensive rebound for the Raiders. Malia Thelen is fouled on a shot and hits one of her two free throws to give Portland its first point. With 4:15 remaining in the quarter, Holt has an 8-1 lead.

Holt misses a fifteen foot shot from the side of the lane. Malia Thelen drives and hits a layup for Portland. Malia Thelen knocks the ball away from Holt, but the Rams are able to recover. Janae Tyler hits a jumper from the free throw elbow to boost the Holt lead to 10-3.

Portland misses a driving layup. Malia Thelen steals the ball for the Raiders. Portland misses a fast break layup. Holt misses a fast break six foot shot from the baseline. Portland misses a threeball from the wing. Claire Tobias makes a short drive and hits a layup for Holt to give her Rams a 12-3 lead.

Portland misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Claire Tobias passes to Kaylin Howard, who hits a layup for Holt. Portland misses a three point shot from the side. Malia Thelen knocks Holt’s outlet pass out of bounds; Holt retains possession. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Abigail Metzger gets the offensive rebound for the Rams and hits a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane at the of the first quarter.

After one quarter, Holt has a 16-3 lead.

Holt inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Rams commit an offensive foul. Rhema Dozier knocks a Portland pass out of bounds; the Raiders retain possession. Janae Tyler ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow doesn’t look up from its video game in time and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Portland. Malia Thelen passes to Lily Thelen, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key to trim the Holt lead to 16-6.

Alexa Weber gets her hand on a Holt pass, but the Rams recover. Rhema Dozier passes to Allison Metzger, who banks in a three point shot from the wing for Holt. (I do think I heard her call “BANK!!”) Malia Thelen hits a three point shot from the wing for Portland. Allison Metzger passes to Claire Tobias, w who hits a three point shot from the wing for Holt. Allison Metzger steals the ball and passes to Rhema Dozier, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost Holt’s lead to 25-9.

Portland misses a layup. Erica Russman pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a layup. Malia Thelen steals the ball for the Raiders. Portland misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Erica Russman blocks a Holt shot. Allison Metzger grabs the loose ball and hits a layup to give Holt a 27-9 lead.

Janae Tyler steals a Raider pass in the lane. Holt misses a three point attempt from the wing. Portland misses a fast break layup. Holt reciprocates and misses a fast break layup. Rhema Dozier knocks the ball away from Portland and Emma Netzel picks it up for Holt. Holt misses a three point host from the wing. Kaylin Howard gets the offensive rebound for Holt. Holt misses a ten foot jump shot in the lane. The rebound is tied up and the ball is awarded to Holt. Rhema Dozier gets into the lane and hits a ten foot shot to give Holt a 29-9 lead.

Claire Tobias and Allison Metzger double team the Raiders and force Portland to lose the ball out of bounds. A Holt dribbler steps on the sideline. Portland throws a pass out of bounds. Holt misses a layup. Claire Tobias grabs the long offensive rebound for Holt. The Rams misfire on a threeball from the wing. Kaylin Howard gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Kaylin Howard is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to boost the Holt lead to 31-9 with 48.9 seconds remaining in the half.

Portland is not able to shoot the ball before the halftime buzzer blares.

Holt has a 31-9 halftime lead.

Malia Thelen has 6 points to lead the Portland scoring.

Allison Metzger has 7 points to lead Holt. Janae Tyler has 6 points. Claire Tobias and Rhema Dozier each have 5 points.

Since there is no halftime entertainment, let’s listen to another tune from my You Tube Channel. John Rickert also stars in this video with his great trumpet work on the Tijuana Brass’ Lonely Bull. (This is also from my You tube Channel.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmJmDiyf3ps

Portland inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Portland misses a threeball from the wing. Holt reciprocates and misses a threeball from the wing. Janae Tyler hits a putback for the Rams. Claire Tobias steals the ball for Holt. Janae Tyler is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost Holt to a 34-9 lead with 7:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Portland misses a three point shot near the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Holt takes possession. Malia Thelen knocks the Ram inbound pass out of bounds; Holt gets another possession. Holt misses an eight foot turnaround shot in the lane. Alexa Weber passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses her two free throws. With 6:17 to play in the quarter, Holt leads 34-9.

Malia Thelen steals a Holt outlet pass. Janae Tyler steals the ball for Holt. Lily Thelen steals the ball for Portland. (Do the authorities know about this rampant crime wave?) Lily Thelen ignores the Bleacher Denizen’s angst and races to scoop in a fast break layup for her Raiders. Janae Tyler passes to Rhema Dozier, who hits a layup for Holt. Alexa Weber hits a layup to trim the Holt lead to 36-15.

Holt misfires on a threeball from the wing. Claire Tobias gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Claire Tobias passes to Bailey Hosford, who hits a layup for Holt. Portland passes the ball out of bounds. Jayden Townsend blocks a Holt fast break layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Holt gets another opportunity. Bella Spitzley ties up the Holt inbound pass in the lane; the Possession Arrow was watching a Tik Tok video, missed the play and awarded the ball back to Holt. Malia Thelen steals the ball for Portland and hits a fast break layup to shave the Ram lead to 38-15.

Holt misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Janae Tyler is fouled on the putback and hits two free throws to give Holt a 40-15 lead with 3:38 remaining in the period.

Portland misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Malia Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Malia Thelen pulls down another offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a layup. Holt misses a three point attempt from the side. Aniah Darden gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. McKenna Boykin passes to Ella Gruber for a Raider layup that cuts the Holt lead to 40-17.

Holt misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Janae Tyler blocks a Holt layup. Erica Russman grabs the loose ball and hits a layup for Portland. Janae Tyler passes to Kaylin Howard for a Holt layup. Portland misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Alexa Weber pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a three point shot from the corner. Holt has no time to shoot before the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After three quarters, Holt leads 42-19.

Holt has the ball at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Rams miss a three point shot from the side. Rhema Dozier pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams and passes to Janae Tyler, who spins and hits a layup for Holt. Portland misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Holt misses a three pointer from the side. Janae Tyler grabs the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a fallaway ten foot shot from the baseline. Allison Metzger hits a putback to give Holt a 46-19 lead.

Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Alexa Weber ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow and all its committees are impressed with Ms. Weber’s determination and award the ball to Portland. Allison Metzger ties up the ball. The fickle Possession Arrow awards the ball to Holt this time. Holt misses a layup. Kaylin Howard is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to give her Rams a 48-19 lead with 5:55 left on the clock.

Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Bella Spitzley snares the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Bailey Hosford knocks the ball away from Portland and Allison Metzger picks it up for Holt. Paige Spedoske steals the ball for Portland. Malia Thelen is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Raiders. With 4:56 remaining in the contest, Holt’s lead is at 48-30.

Presley Pazitka passes to Kaylin Howard, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Holt. Paige Spedoske is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Portland. Paige Spedoske steals a pass to break up a Holt fast break. Malia Thelen hits a three point shot for Portland to cut Holt’s lead to 50-25.

McKenna Boykin blocks a Holt layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Holt gets another opportunity. Holt misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Lily Thelen is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Holt lead to 50-26 with 3:18 left on the clock.

Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Presley Pazitka gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt throws a pass out of bounds. Genevieve Nagel blocks a Portland layup; the Raiders recover the loose ball. Paige Spedoske passes to Alexa Weber, who is fouled on a shot and hits one of her two free throws. With 2:23 left in the game, the Holt lead is at 50-27.

Jayden Townsend steals the ball for the Raiders. Kaylin Howard knocks a Portland pass out of bounds to prevent a layup. Portland gets the ball back. Alexa Weber hits a layup for Portland. Malia Thelen plays tight defense and forces Holt into a five second closely guarded violation. Lily Thelen passes to Jayden Townsend, who throws in a threeball from the side for Portland. Holt’s lead is at 50-32.

Holt misses a layup. Janae Tyler pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Portland gets the ball. Lily Thelen passes to Paige Spedoske, who hits a reverse layup for the Raiders. A traveling violation negates a Holt layup.

Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Claire Lyon fights for the ball and causes Holt to lose the rebound out of bounds. Lily Thelen passes to Paige Spedoske, who hits a layup for Portland, is fouled and hits her free throw to pull Portland to within thirteen points at 50-37 with 12.4 seconds to go.

Holt misses a layup at the buzzer.

Holt wins this game by the score of 50-37.

Malia Thelen had 12 points to lead the Portland scoring. Paige Spedoske supported her with 7 points and Lily Thelen added 6 points. Alexa Weber scored 5 points. Jayden Townsend had 3 points. Ella Gruber and Erica Russman each tallied 2 points.

Holt’s Janae Tyler led all scorers with 13 points. Kaylin Howard joined her teammate in double figures with 10 points. Allison Metzger contributed 9 points. Rhema Dozier chipped in with 7 points. Claire Tobias added 5 points. Bailey Hosford had 4 points. Abigail Metzger scored 2 points.