Fulton at Fowler – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 16, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, it’s Martin Luther King Day. Your Bleacher Denizen got to the music studio and to his eye doctor to get his new glasses fixed before heading out to Fowler to cover this game.

In this music video, I let the audience know that you never know where the Red River Valley might lead you, as the piano leads to all sorts of arrangements for this classic old folk song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

Fowler is one place where the Red River Valley does not lead, but fortunately for Bleacher Denizen fans, M-21 does lead there and a short trip up Main Street leads you to just a couple blocks away from Fowler’s gym.

Fowler’s Eagles enter this game with a 5-2 record.

Earlier this year, Eagle Coach Kam Riley gave me this information about his players. Jacob Halfmann is a sophomore in his second year as Fowler’s point guard. He also quarterbacks the Eagle football team. He is a great athlete with the size to defend in the post and the quickness to cover people on the perimeter. His demeanor on the court is always calm and confident. On offense, he is a fine ball handler and a competent passer who makes few if any mistakes. He can either overpower people in the post to score on layups or putbacks or shoot his smooth three point shot.

Alex Halfmann is a sophomore in his second year of starting in the post. He is a fine rebounder and defender down low. He also is able to get lots of putbacks on the offensive end. Nolan Stump is a junior guard in his third year on the Eagle varsity. He is a confident shooter who can hit the three point shot and also can convert teammates’ passes into layups. Aaron Simon is a fine outside shooter with excellent range on his three point shot.

Zach Halfmann is a tall and athletic player who can guard opponents in the post or on the perimeter. He has a fine three point shot as well. Asher Koenigsknecht is a sophomore who is an extremely energetic and persistent perimeter defender.

Fulton Coach Todd Walden gave me this information about his Pirate players. Bruce Thelen is an excellent athlete who was an all-state football player. In basketball, he is a complete guard who runs the point well, controls the offense, defends well on the perimeter and can either shoot three point shots or slash to the basket for layups and free throws.

Zach Saller is a tall player who defends well in the post, but can also guard people well on the perimeter. He is able to score near the basket and convert offensive rebounds into baskets. He also is a fine three point shooter. Jadon Podolak is a guard who makes few mistakes on offense and defends well on the perimeter. He is a solid three point shooter as well.

Dezmond Blair is a big guy who defends well in the post and can score on putbacks. Thomas Thelen starts at a forward position and contributes to the Pirate post defense. Ryan Trefil is a strong perimeter defender.

I arrived at the gym in time to see the JV game. (In fact, I saw the very end of the freshman game where Fowler easily defeated Shepherd and was a bit panicked that I was not there in time to get ready for the varsity game. Fortunately, I calmed down as soon as I realized I had not missed the JV game.)

Fowler got out to a 15-7 lead after one quarter and had a 30-15 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Fulton’s JVs outscored Fowler 12-4 to trim the Eagle lead to 34-27 entering the fourth quarter. Fulton got within six points on a three point shot from Parker Duflo at 37-31 with about 5:20 left in the game, but Fulton was never able to get closer than that. Fowler’s JVs won by a final score of 41-33.

Donovan Shinaver led the Pirate JVs with 12 points. Parker Duflo poured in 8 points. Bryson Sattler and Peyton Reynolds each added 4 points. Parker Hungerford tossed in 3 points and Parker Billings tallied 2 points.

Nate Spicer led the Fowler JVs with 12 points. Ford Phillips supported his teammate with 8 points. Brady Feldpausch and Dylan Pline each contributed 6 points. Connor Katich chipped in with 5 points. Augustine Spitzley added 4 points.

It is now time to look at the varsity game through the faded view of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days of yore. It took him too long to learn that while his employer at the bakery loved it when he made turnovers, his basketball coach frowned upon every one he made during practices and games. Sometimes, the world just needs to make up its mind!

Fowler wins the opening tap and Jacob Halfmann promptly hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Nolan Stump steals the ball for the Eagles; the Halfmann connection clicks as Jacob Halfmann passes to Alex Halfmann for a layup that gives the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Thomas Thelen pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. The ball is tied up and the Possession Arrow allows Fulton another opportunity. Fulton misses a three point shot near the top of the key. Alex Halfmann beats everyone down the corner and hits a fast break dunk to give Fowler a 6-0 lead.

Fulton commits an offensive foul. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Zach Saller passes to Bruce Thelen, who hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Fulton is assessed with a traveling violation. Fowler misses a threeball from the wing. Fulton misses a driving layup. Fowler misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Jacob Halfmann harasses Fulton into an over and back violation.

Fowler bounces a pass through the lane and out of bounds. Jacob Halfmann gets his hand on the ball, but the Pirates are able to recover. Jadon Podolak hits a ten foot shot in the lane to trim the Fowler lead to 6-4.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Alex Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a fast break layup, but misses both its free throws. Fulton is whistled for a traveling violation. Fowler misses a three pointer from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Asher Koenigsknecht pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Nathan Hamilton hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 9-4 lead.

Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Nolan Stump’s active defense forces a Fulton over and back violation. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Alex Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound and first the ball to Nathan Hamilton, who hits a three point shot for Fowler at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 14-4 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Fowler misses a layup, but Jacob Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Alex Halfmann zips a pass to Aaron Simon, who pours in a threeball from the wing for Fowler. Fulton misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Asher Koenigsknecht hits a fast break layup to boost the Eagle lead to 19-4.

Fulton misses a driving layup. Bruce Thelen snags the long offensive rebound in the corner for the Pirates. Asher Koenigsknecht closely guards a Pirate player for five seconds and Fulton turns the ball over. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to extend the Fowler lead to 21-4.

A Pirate ball handler steps on the baseline. Bruce Thelen steals the ball for Fulton and hits a fast break layup. Nolan Stump passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fowler. Zach Halfmann steals the ball and makes a long pass to Alex Halfmann, who hits a fast break reverse layup for Fowler. Fulton is called for traveling. Jadon Podolak knocks the ball away from Fowler, but the Eagles are able to recover. Jacob Halfmann hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 29-6 lead.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Jacob Halfmann passes to Nolan Stump, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Brayden Marvin gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses an eight footer in the lane; Bruce Thelen grabs the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Alex Halfmann’s tough defense causes Fulton to lose the ball out of bounds. Jadon Podolak’s defense causes a Fowler traveling violation. Donovan Shinaver is fouled on a drive to the basket and hits two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 32-8 with 42.6 seconds to play in the half.

Bruce Thelen steals the ball for Fulton. Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Jonathan Ruiz blocks a Fulton putback at the buzzer.

Fowler has a 32-8 lead at halftime.

Bruce Thelen lead’s Fulton’s scoring with 4 points at halftime.

Jacob Halfmann has 10 points for Fowler. Nathan Hamilton and Alex Halfmann each have 6 points.

As there is no halftime entertainment today, why don’t we listen to this honky tonk video of “Rose of San Antone” from my You Tube Channel while we wait for play to resume? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAyGsC_FuNo

Fulton inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. The Pirates misfire on a threeball from the top of the key. Nolan Stump passes to Aaron Simon, who hits an eight foot shot in the lane for Fowler. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw. Zach Saller passes to Bruce Thelen, who is fouled on an eight foot shot from the baseline and hits two free throws for Fulton. With 6:53 remaining in the third quarter, Fowler holds a 35-10 lead.

Nolan Stump passes to Aaron Simons, who launches and hits a three point those from the side for Fowler. Zach Saller fakes, drives and is fouled on a six foot baseline hook shot. He hits two free throws to trim Fowler’s lead to 38-12 with 6:29 left in the quarter.

Alex Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball, is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for Fowler. Fulton is called for a double dribble violation. Dezmond Blair steals the ball for Fulton. Fulton loses a pass out of bounds. Alex Halfmann passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a three point shot from the corner to push the Fowler lead to 45-12.

Asher Koenigsknecht knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds, but Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a layup; Jadon Podolak hits a putback for the Pirates. Nathan Hamilton passes to Zach Halfmann, who throws in a threeball from the corner for the Eagles. Bruce Thelen hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misses a layup. Bruce Thelen hits a spinning ten foot shot from the side for Fulton. Fowler’s lead is at 48-18.

Fowler misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Asher Koenigsknecht and Tristan Smith team up to knock the ball away from Fulton; this leads to a fast break layup by Aaron Simon. Bruce Thelen is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Fulton. With 15.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Fowler has a 50-20 lead.

Fowler turns the ball over. Jadon Podolak passes to Thomas Thelen, who hits a layup for Fulton. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Aaron Simon grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup as the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 50-22 lead.

Fowler inbounds the ball to start the fourth quarter. Alex Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fowler. Parker Billings passes to Bruce Thelen for a Fulton layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Alex Halfmann hits a putback to give Fowler a 55-24 lead.

Fulton misses a layup. Brayden Marvin gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Parker Duflo draws a charging foul from Fowler. Jacob Hamilton steals the ball for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Tristan Smith, who spins and hits a six foot banked shot for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 59-24 lead.

Tristan Smith steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Fowler. Tristan Smith’s tight defense forces Fulton to call time out to preserve its possession. Parker Billings passes to Ryan Bradford, who hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 63-26.

Jonathan Ruiz drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Fulton misses a driving layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a driving layup. Carter Dunsmore draws a charging foul from Fulton. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Tristan Smith hits an up and under layup to give Fowler a 67-26 lead.

Fulton is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Fowler dribbles out the last 13.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

Fowler wins this non-conference game by a 67-26 score.

Bruce Thelen had 12 points to lead the Fulton scoring. Jadon Podolak added 4 points. Zach Saller, Ryan Bradford, Thomas Thelen, Donovan Shinaver and Parker Duflo each scored 2 points.

Aaron Simon had 17 points to lead Fowler’s scoring. Jacob Hamilton joined his teammate in double figures with 16 points. Alex Halfmann chipped in with 8 points. Nathan Hamilton, Asher Koenigsknecht and Tristan Smith each added 6 points. Nolan Stump and Zach Halfmann each scored 3 points. Jonathan Ruiz had 2 points.