Bath at Fowler – – CMAC Girls Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 9, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s trip includes a stop at the Hazel Findlay Home in St. Johns, where I entertained the residents with songs like this one!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

The Fowler Eagles enter this game with an 8-2 record in the CMAC (second place) and an 11-6 overall record.

Emma Riley is a returning All-State player for the Eagles. Even though she is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered during volleyball, she brings a lot to her team. She is an excellent shooter from three point or the mid-range and plays tough defense. She is also a great ball handler who has countless moves for slashing to the basket and scoring. She is also a very willing and able passer.

Grace Epkey is a tough, athletic player who can defend any position on the court. She is a tireless defender who is a great rebounder and backs away from no opponent. She gets a lot of putbacks and inside scores for the Eagles, but is also capable of hitting from the three point line if she is open.

Taylor Weber and Avery Koenigsknecht are tireless perimeter defenders who make life difficult for opposing guards with relentless pressure. Both of them are skilled three point shooters as well. Katie Spicer is a fine ball handler who is a creative scorer near the basket. She also is a willing and able performer in the stout Fowler defense. Quinn Watts is an aggressive perimeter defender. Grace O’Hare is a good perimeter defender who can hit the three point shot.

The Bath Bees are tied for fifth place in the CMAC with a 4-5 league record. They are 4-5 overall. Coach Chris Rypstra was helpful with information about his players.

Kassi Buck, the Bees’ usual starting point guard who handles the ball and defends well is out with an injury tonight. Aubrie Schaibly is a fine offensive player who is adept at hitting the three point shot or slashing to the basket. Anna Schaibly is a good three point shooter and perimeter defender. Madilyn Johnson is an excellent on-the-ball defender with a fine three point shot.

Annabelle Klusack is a fine defender, scorer and rebounder in the post. Aubri Torok will run the point tonight. She is a fine perimeter defender. She rebounds well for a guard and has a good Basketball IQ.

Katie Ryals and Emma Parker are perimeter defenders who slash to the basket well. Abby Smith is a versatile defender who can cover people in the lane or on the perimeter. Kylie Grennell is an excellent on ball defender. Kaitlin Dickey defends well in the post and has a strong basketball IQ. Vanessa Vail is a good scorer, defender and rebounder in the post.

I got to the gym in time to see the JV game. Fowler jumped off to a 17-0 lead before Riley Hart hit a free throw for Bath with 3:17 to play in the first quarter. After one quarter, Fowler had a 28-5 lead and the Eagle JVs increased that to 43-10 at halftime. Fowler won the JV game 56-22.

Anna Poppema led the Bath JVs with 12 points. Braelynn Barber scored 3 points. Riley Hart, Jordyn Lira and Maci McCrimmon each put in two points. Sophie VanNorman tallied 1 point.

Megan Hufnagel had 11 points to lead the Fowler JV scoring. Elizabeth Hufnagel contributed 9 points. Selena Stump, Kelcie Pung and Paige Thelen each chipped in with 6 points. Olivia Thelen and Brooke Weber each scored 5 points. Saige Miller added 4 points. Paisley Hansen and Neelah O’Rourke each had 2 points.

It is now time to look at the results of the varsity game through the blurry lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in ancient times when he attempted to play basketball. Alas, his shooting game was ruined when the basketball powers that be forced him to quit using a catapult to launch his three point shots.

Fowler wins the opening tap. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. Emma Riley blocks a Bath fast break layup. Fowler misses a layup. Avery Koenigsknecht nearly steals the ball for Fowler, but it goes out of bounds and Bath retains possession. Bath misses a layup. Madilyn Johnson pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a jump shot. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Emma Riley, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give her Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Bath misses an eight foot shot in the lane. Grace Epkey hits a fast break layup for Fowler. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw; With 6:08 left in the first quarter, Fowler has a 6-0 lead.

Bath throws a pass out of bounds. Fowler fumbles a cross court pass out of bounds. Bath misses a three point attempt from the wing. Annabelle Klusack pulls down the offensive e rebound for the Bees. Anna Schaibly passes to Annabelle Klusack, who is fouled on a six foot shot in the lane. Annabelle Klusack hits one of her two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 6-1 with 5:21 to play in the quarter.

Madilyn Johnson ties up a Fowler pass. The Possession Arrow is impressed with her hustle and awards the ball to Bath. Bath misses a layup. Abby Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Abby Smith gets another offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the wing. Aubri Torok drives and scoops in a layup for the Bees. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to shave the Fowler lead to 6-3 with 3:59 to go in the first quarter.

Katie Spicer passes to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Grace O’Hare blocks a Bath shot. Fowler misses an eight foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Aubri Torok is fouled on a shot and hits one of her two free throws for Bath. With 2:55 left in the quarter, Fowler’s lead is at 9-4.

Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Rebecca Smith hits a putback for the Eagles. Bath misses a layup. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Emma Riley steals the ball for the Eagles and throws a long pass to Grace O’Hare, who hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 13-4 lead.

Emma Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three pointer from the side. Rebecca Smith gets her hand on a Bath pass into the lane; the ball goes out of bounds and the Bees get it back. Bath misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Rebecca Smith gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Grace O’Hare throws in a threeball from the top of the key at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 16-4 lead.

Fowler has the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss a three pointer from the wing. Katie Spicer pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Taylor Weber drives from the wing to hit a layup for the Eagles. Aubrie Schaibly drives and hits a layup for the Bees. Fowler misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Bath misses a layup. Fowler misses a jump shot. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. Grace O’Hare hits a fast break layup to give the Eagles a 20-6 lead.

Emma Riley steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Rebecca Smith hits a putback for the Eagles. Taylor Weber steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a fast break layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Bath takes possession. The Bees miss a three point shot from the wing. Abby Smith snags the offensive rebound for Bath. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing.

Bath blocks a Fowler fast break layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. Fowler is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Rebecca Smith steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Bath gets the ball. Bath misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Bees get the ball back.

Emma Riley knocks the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. The Bees throw a pass out of bounds. Anna Schaibly knocks a Fowler pass out of bounds; The Eagles retain possession. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Madilyn Johnson passes to Abby Smith, who hits a layup for the Bees. Fowler misses a jump shot. Emma Riley steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give the Eagles a 24-8 lead.

Aubri Torok is fouled on a six foot baseline hook and hits one of her two free throws for the Bees. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another possession. Taylor Weber passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot for Fowler and the Eagles have a 27-9 lead.

Grace O’Hare gets her hand on a Bee pass, but Bath is able to recover. Aubri Torok is fouled and hit both free throws in a one and one opportunity. With 2:02 remaining in the first half, Fowler has a 27-11 lead.

Fowler misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball for the Eagles. Avery Koenigsknecht is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Eagles. Taylor Weber knocks a Bath pass out of bounds; the Bees retain possession. Bath misfires on a triple try from the side. Emma Riley passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, to tosses in a threeball from the wing to give Fowler a 31-11 lead.

Brooke Weber knocks the ball away from Bath and Taylor Weber picks it up for Fowler. Taylor Weber passes to Emma Riley, who hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. Bath drives the baseline and is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. Brooke Weber passes to Avery Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot for Fowler as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

Fowler has a 36-11 lead at halftime. Aubri Torok leads the Bath scoring at halftime with 6 points.

Avery Koenigsknecht has 10 points at halftime for Fowler. Emma Riley and Grace O’Hare each have 7 points.

The Fowler third graders entertain the crowd at halftime. For those readers who cannot see the boys play, here is a light spirited video of “Glow Worm” from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbyez-hYtDY

Bath inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. The Bees throw a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and Bath takes possession. Emma Riley steals a Bee pass into the lane. Fowler misses a fast break layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets the ball back. Grace O’Hare inbounds the ball to Grace Epkey, who hits a layup to give Fowler a 38-11 lead.

Aubrie Schaibly drives from the side and hits a layup for Bath. Fowler misses a driving banked runner. Avery Koenigsknecht knocks a Bee pass out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Grace O’Hare knocks the ball away from Bath; Emma Riley grabs the ball and goes coast to coast for a Fowler layup. Grace O’Hare tips the ball away from Bath, but the Bees are able to recover. Annabelle Klusack hits a layup for Bath to trim the Fowler lead to 42-15.

Emma Riley steals a pass for Fowler. Fowler throws a pass too long and out of bounds. Bath misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Aubri Torok gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Aubri Torok steals the ball for the Bees. Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball for the Eagles. Avery Koenigsknecht is fouled on a shot and hits one of her two free throws for Fowler to give the Eagles a 43-15 lead with 3:46 to play in the third quarter.

Aubri Torok passes to Abby Smith, who hits a layup for the Bees. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Grace Epkey hits a putback for the Eagles. Katie Spicer knocks the ball away from Bath, but the Bees recover. Bath loses the ball out of bounds. Vanessa Vail steals the ball for the Bees. Brianne Halfmann knocks the ball away from the Bees, but they are able to recover. Madilyn Johnson passes to Aubrie Schaibly, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Bath. With 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, the Fowler lead is at 45-19.

Fowler misses a threeball from the side. Grace Epkey pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Bath gets the ball. Anna Schaibly passes to Annabelle Klusack, who hits a layup for Bath and is fouled. She misses her free throw. With 1:14 to go in the quarter, Fowler has a 45-21 lead.

Kelcie Pung passes to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side. Bath throws a cross court pass too high and out of bounds. Annabelle Klusack blocks a Fowler shot. Brianne Halfmann picks up the loose ball for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws.

Katie Spicer steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Brianne Halfmann ties up the ball; the Possession Arrow awards the ball to Fowler. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Brianne Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup as the quarter ends.

With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 48-21 lead.

Bath has the ball to open the fourth quarter. Taylor Weber knocks a Bath pass out of bounds and Fowler takes possession. Fowler throws a pass out of bounds. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler misses a fourteen foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Elizabeth Hufnagel gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Taylor Weber, who takes one hard dribble to her left and sinks a three pointer from the side to boost Fowler to a 51-21 lead.

Avery Koenigsknecht steals the ball for the Eagles. Avery Koenigsknecht passes to Grace Epkey, who hits an eight foot shot in the lane for Fowler. Kylie Grennell passes to Vanessa Vail, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws for Bath. With 5:33 remaining in the game, Fowler has a 53-23 lead.

Kylie Grennell knocks a Fowler pass out of bounds. Fowler retains possession. Kelcie Pung passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Eagles. Grace Epkey steals a Bath pass. Kelcie Pung passes to Taylor Weber, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fowler. Katelyn Dickey passes to Madison Johnson, who hits a three point shot for Bath. Taylor Weber throws in a threeball from the side to give Fowler a 62-26 lead.

Bath misses a three pointer from the side. Elizabeth Hufnagel passes to Brooke Weber, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to give Fowler a 63-26 lead with 3:14 left on the clock.

Katie Spicer knocks a pass out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Aubrie Schaibly drives from the side and hits a layup for Fowler. Fowler misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Brianne Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup.

Katie Ryals hits a three point shot from the side for Bath. Fowler misses a jump shot. Bath fouls on the rebound. Katelyn Dickey ties up the inbound pass for Bath. The Possession Arrow is watching Tik Tok, misses the play and awards the ball back to Fowler. Elizabeth Hufnagel passes to Kelcie Pung, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Fowler a 66-31 lead.

Bath misses a six foot banked shot from the side. The rebound is tied up and the Possession Arrow decrees that Bath shall have the ball. Katelyn Dickey inbounds the ball to Vanessa Vail, who hits a layup for Bath. Elizabeth Hufnagel throws in a threeball from the wing for the Eagles. Fowler now has a 69-33 lead.

Bath loses a pass out of bounds. Elizabeth Hufnagel is fouled on a driving eight foot scooped shot with 1:03 to play and hits one of her two free throws. Bath throws a pass out of bounds with about 40 seconds left. Fowler dribbles out the clock.

Fowler wins 70-33.

Aubrie Schaibly had 8 points to lead the Bath scoring. Aubri Torok added 6 points. Annabelle Klusack scored 5 points. Abby Smith and Vanessa Vail each threw in 4 points. Madilyn Johnson and Katie Ryals each had 3 points.

Taylor Weber had 17 points to lead Fowler. Avery Koenigsknecht joined her teammate in double figures with 13 points. Emma Riley and Grace O’Hare each contributed 9 points. Grace Epkey chipped in with 7 points. Rebecca Smith, Brooke Weber and Elizabeth Hufnagel each scored 4 points. Kelcie Pung tallied 3 points.