Portland at Bath – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 17, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s “journey” is actually a short jaunt to Bath High School where the Fighting Bees will host the Raiders from Portland in Boys Basketball. Portland enters the game with a 3-5 record while Bath is at 1-5.

While we wait for the game to start, let’s listen to this Mills Brothers’ novelty tune from the 1950s which has probably been performed by every elementary school in existence!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbyez-hYtDY

DeVondre Chandler is a returning starter from last year’s Bath Regional Champions. He has amazing athletic ability; he is one of the few people on the planet who can make dunking look easy. (Your Bleacher Denizen absolutely knows that is not the case!!) He is also very quick and strong. He is a phenomenon on defense and is also excellent at driving to the basket either to score or to pass to a teammate for an easy shot. He is also a capable three point shooter.

Jacob Kuhn is a big guy who is a fine scorer and rebounder near the basket. The rest of the team really commits to intense defense and plays hard from start to finish.

For Portland, Narc Nobis is a traditional hard-nosed point guard who is gritty and determined. He defends relentlessly and controls the offense flow. He passes and handles the ball really well. Dominic Novara is a sophomore in his second year as a starter. He is a tall guard who can handle the ball well enough to run the point. He uses his ball handling to drive to the basket or to get open for three point shots. He shoots really well off the dribble.

Christopher Battley is a post player who is a tough rebounder and defender. He is able to score on post moves and putbacks. Evan Gross is a fine shooter either from the three point line or closer to the basket.

I got to the JV game just before halftime. Portland held a 26-23 lead at halftime. They outscored Bath 14-8 in the third quarter and 8-4 in the fourth quarter. Portland won by a final score of 48-35.

Ethan Wicks led the Bath JV with 15 points. Brayden Teachworth contributed 6 points. Louis Simpson and Calvin Smith each scored 3 points. Jay Kreisler, Aden Briggs, Mitchell Hammond and Andy Wonch each tallied 2 points.

Keaton McGregor led the Portland JVs with 13 points. Jacob Farley joined his teammate in double figures with 11 points. Joshua Allarding put in 8 points. Tejan Virk and Levi Nobis each scored 5 points. A.J. Weber tossed in 4 points and Thomas Perron had 2 points.

It is now time to review the results of the varsity game through the aging, creaking lenses of a Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in ancient times when some folks considered him to be “young.” Alas, the Bleacher Denizen’s defensive play suffered greatly when the powers that be decreed that pepper spray could no longer be used on the court. (A plea to allow him to use mustard gas was also rejected.)

The Bath pep band does a fine job playing the national anthem.

Portland wins the opening tap. Dominic Novara passes to Christopher Battley, who spins and hits a layup to give the Raiders the first two points of the game. Bath misses a layup. Portland misfires on a triple try from the wing. Bath misses a layup. Jacob Kuhn pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a six foot shot in the lane. The Bees are assessed with a technical foul. Portland misses two free throws, but will inbound the ball. With 6:51 left in the first quarter, Portland has a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders miss a three point attempt from the wing. Christopher Battley steals a Bee pass. Portland loses a fast break pass out of bounds. Bath is fouled on a layup, but the foul is ruled to be before the shot, so there are no free throws. Christopher Battley tips the ball away from Bath and Marc Nobis picks it up for Portland. The Raiders miss a fast break layup. The Bees miss a threeball from the wing. Danton Marowelli passes to Dominic Novara, who banks in an eight foot shot from the side to give the Raiders a 4-0 lead.

DeVondre Chandler is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Bath. Dominic Novara passes to Christopher Battley, who executes a post move and hits a layup for the Raiders. Bath misses a jump shot. Portland throws a fast break outlet pass too far and out of bounds. Bath misses a threeball from the corner. Remington McCrimmon gets the offensive rebound and hits a six foot jumper from the baseline to trim the Portland lead to 6-4.

The Bath press forces Portland to turn the ball over. Bath commits an offensive foul. Portland commits a traveling violation. Bath misses a driving layup. Portland misfires on a threeball from the side. Danton Marowelli’s stout defense causes Bath to forgo a layup and pass the ball outside. Bath misses a ten foot shot from the side. Evan Gross drives and hits a ten foot runner to give Portland an 8-4 lead.

Marc Nobis nearly steals the Bath inbound pass, but his momentum carries him out of bounds. Bath misses a driving layup. DeVondre Chandler is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws for the Bees. With 1:55 remaining in the first quarter, Portland has an 8-5 lead.

Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Bath misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Bees get another opportunity. Dominic Novara steals the ball for Portland. Bradlee Uhlmann gets back quickly and gives a foul to prevent a Portland layup. Dominic Novara hits one of his two free throws to give Portland a 9-5 lead with 53.2 seconds to play in the quarter.

Carter White pulls down the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Conner Kazamer is fouled on a shot in the lane and hits two free throws for Portland. Bath is whistled for traveling on a drive to the basket. Portland misses a three point shot from the wing at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Portland has an 11-5 lead.

Portland has the ball at the beginning of the second quarter. Jacob Kuhn blocks a Portland driving layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Raiders get another opportunity. Portland misses a driving layup. Dominic Novara is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to boost Portland to a 12-5 lead with 7:37 remaining in the first half.

Evan Gross ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow and its posse decide to ignore his aggressive defense and award the ball back to Bath. Bath misses a layup. Christopher Battley hits a fast break layup for Portland. Bath misses a six foot hook from the baseline. Marc Nobis makes a slick pass behind his back to Christopher Battley, who converts a layup to give Portland a 16-5 lead.

Christopher Battley steals the ball for Portland. DeVondre Chandler steals the ball for Bath. (Your Bleacher Denizen feels for his wallet to make sure that it has not also been stolen. On court crime waves can be unnerving!) Bath misses a three point shot from the corner. Max Parry gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Jacob Kuhn is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Portland lead to 16-6 with 6:12 left in the half.

Max Parry knocks the ball away from Portland and DeVondre Chandler picks it up for Bath. DeVondre Chandler is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws for Bath. Dominic Novara passes to Evan Gross, who hits a layup for Portland. Christopher Battley steals a Bee pass. Cole Chamberlain steals a Raider pass. After the Bleacher Denizen makes sure his possessions are intact, he notices that Max Parry has passed to Remington McCrimmon, who was fouled on a layup. Remington McCrimmon hits one of his two free throws to shave the Portland lead to 18-8 with 5:06 to go in the half.

Conner Kazamer hits a layup for Portland. Carter White draws a charging foul from Bath. Portland misses a layup. Carter White knocks a fast break pass out of bounds to prevent a Bath layup. Christopher Battley steals Bath’s inbound pass. Portland misses a three point shot from the side. DeVondre Chandler is fouled on a six foot fast break jumper from the baseline. DeVondre Chandler hits one of his two free throws to trim the Portland lead to 20-9 with 3:12 left in the first half.

Kayden Dickerson drives from the top of the key to the basket and hits a layup for Portland. Bath misers a fifteen foot shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Portland takes possession. Marc Nobis drives and hits a layup for Portland. Marc Nobis’ fierce defense causes a Bath dribbler to step on the baseline. Portland misses a driving layup. Sam Wonch grabs a loose ball in the lane and hits a ten foot shot for Bath to cut the Portland lead to 24-11.

Portland misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Bath misses a fast break layup. Jacob Kuhn hauls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a threeball from the side. Sam Wonch knocks the ball away from Portland and Remington McCrimmon grabs it for Bath. Remington McCrimmon is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for Bath. With 46.1 seconds to play in the half, Portland holds a 24-12 lead.

Portland misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Bees take possession. Bath misses a three point shot from the side. Evan Gross quickly gets the ball up the court and beats the buzzer with a three point shot from the wing for Portland.

Portland has a 27-12 lead at halftime.

DeVondre Chandler has 5 points to lead Bath’s halftime scoring and Remington McCrimmon has 4 points.

Christopher Battley has 8 points for Portland and Evan Gross has 7 points. Dominic Novara and Conner Kazamer each have 4 points.

The Bath pep band does a fine job playing several songs at halftime.

As my readers can’t hear this fine music, maybe we can listen to a bit of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” as we wait for the second half to commence. (Hey, it’s my blog and I can use high-falutin’ words like “commence” if I want to.)

Portland inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. The Raiders misfire on a three pointer from the wing. Max Parry passes to DeVondre Chandler, who throws in a threeball from the corner for Bath. Evan Gross counters with a made three pointer from the side for Portland. Bath misses a three point shot from the corner. Christopher Battley hits a fast break layup for the Raiders. Dominic Novara steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to boost the Portland lead to 34-15.

Dominic Novara nearly steals the ball for Portland, but Bath recovers. Max Parry passes to Jacob Kuhn, who hits a layup for the Bees. Dominic Novara hits a twelve foot shot from the wing for Portland. Devondre Chandler hits a layup for Bath. Evan Gross drives and hits a layup to give Portland a 38-19 lead.

Bath misses a three point shot from the side. DeVondre Chandler blocks a Portland driving layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Raiders get another opportunity. Portland misses a layup. Dominic Novara knocks the ball out of bounds to break up a Bath fast break. Kayden Dickerson plays tough defense to cause Bath to travel in the lane. DeVondre Chandler steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a layup and foul on the rebound.

An attempted touchdown pass over the Bath press by Portland goes too far and out of bounds. Christopher Battley steals a Bee pass. Portland misses a three point shot from the wing. Devondre Chandler drives the baseline and hits a layup for Bath. Dominic Novara is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to push the Portland lead to 39-21 with 3:45 to go in the quarter.

Dominic Novara gets the offensive rebound for Portland. The Raiders miss a three point shot from the side. Kayden Dickerson hits a layup for Portland. Bath misses a three pointer from the corner. Portland misses a three pointer from the side and fouls on the rebound. Evan Gross steals the ball for Portland. Bryce Proctor draws a charging foul from Portland. Bath misses a three point shot from the corner. Bradlee Uhlmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Conner Kazamer plays fierce defense and forces a Bath turnover when he guards his man closely for five seconds.

Portland misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. Bradlee Uhlmann steals the ball for the Bees. Bath misses a fifteen foot shot from the wing. Bradlee Uhlmann steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a twelve footer from the baseline. Kayden Dickerson drives and hits a layup for Portland to give the Raiders a 43-21 lead.

Barrett Brennan dives and knocks the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Brayden Bennett drives and dishes the ball to Sam Wonch, who hits a three point shot from the side for Bath. Portland misses a layup. Sawyer Maynard gets the offensive rebound for the Raiders. Portland misses a layup at the buzzer.

With three quarters in the books, Portland holds a 43-24 lead.

Bath inbounds the ball to begin quarter number four. Carter White taps the ball away from Bath and Evan Gross picks it up for Portland. Portland misses a six foot banked shot. Conner Kazamer steals the ball for the Raiders. Portland loses the ball out of bounds on a fast break. DeVondre Chandler drives and dishes the ball to Brayden Bennett, who launches and hits a three point shot for Bath. Evan Gross drives and hits a layup for Portland. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 7:04 remaining in the game, Portland has a 45-27 lead.

Evan Gross knocks the ball away from Bath and Kayden Dickerson picks it up for Portland. The Raiders turn over the ball on the fast break. DeVondre Chandler hits a fast break layup, is fouled and hits his free throw for Bath. Kayden Dickerson drives from the side and hits a layup for Portland. Dominic Novara draws a charging foul from Bath. The Portland freshman connection comes through as Carter White zips a cross court pass to Kayden Dickerson, who hits a three point shot to give Portland a 57-30 lead.

Bath misses a fifteen footer from the baseline. Portland misses a driving layup and fouls Cole Chamberlain on the rebound. Cole Chamberlain hits one of two free throws in a one and one situation. With 5:08 left on the clock, the Portland lead is at 50-33.

Jacob Kuhn pulls down the offensive rebound for Bath. Bath misses a layup. Jacob Kuhn is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws for Bath. Evan Gross passes to Sawyer Maynard for a Portland layup. Danton Marowelli draws a charging foul from Bath. Portland misses a three point shot from the corner. Dominic Novara draws a charging foul from Bath.

A double team by Devondre Chandler and Cole Chamberlain forces a Portland traveling violation. Barrett Brennan’s tough defense forces a Bath traveling violation. Devondre Chandler foils a Portland fast break layup by knocking the ball out of bounds. Portland retains possession. The Raiders miss a driving layup. Brayden Bennett passes to DeVondre Chandler, who hits a fast break layup to trim the Portland lead to 52-37.

DeVondre Chandler steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Bees. The Bath press causes Portland to throw a pass out of bounds. Bath misses a three point shot from the side. Danton Marowelli is fouled on the rebound and hits two free throws to give Portland a 54-39 lead with 2:12 left on the clock.

Danton Marowelli knocks Bath’s inbound pass out of bounds; the ball goes off a Bath player and Portland takes possession. Dominic Novara passes to Christopher Battley for a Portland layup. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw. With 1:50 left in the game, the Portland lead is at 57-39.

Bath misses a driving layup. Portland misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow; the rebound goes out of bounds and Bath gets the ball. Colten Hinsman hits a two point basket from the side for Bath. Colten Hinsman steals the ball for the Bees. Bath loses a pass out of bounds. Max Parry and Sam Wonch force a tie up on Portland. The Possession Arrow ignores their hustle and awards the ball to Bath. Bryce Proctor steals the ball for Bath. Sam Wonch is fouled and hits two free throws for Bath with 22.2 seconds left to play.

Sam Wonch forces a Portland traveling violation. Bath misses a three pointer from the side as the final buzzer sounds.

Portland wins 57-41.

Bath’s DeVondre Chandler led all scorers with 19 points. Sam Wonch and Jacob Kuhn each chipped in with 7 points. Remington McCrimmon scored 4 points. Brayden Bennett added 3 points. Colten Hinsman scored 2 points. Cole Chamberlain tallied 1 point.

Evan Gross led the Portland scoring with 14 points. Christopher Battley supported his teammate with 13 points. Dominic Novara joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. Kayden Dickerson scored 9 points. Conner Kazamer put in 5 points. Marc Nobis, Sawyer Maynard and Danton Marowelli each had 2 points.