Morrice at Portland St. Patrick – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – February 24, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Morrice Orioles are visiting Portland St. Patrick for a non-league boys’ basketball game. Morrice enters the game with a 2-17 record while the Shamrocks from St. Patrick are at 4-11. While we wait for the game to begin, I hope you enjoy this Ragtime tune with a comedic twist in the middle and at the end from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w

After two days of ice as well as one Ash Wednesday service cancelation and a Thursday basketball game cancelation, your Bleacher Denizen made his way to Portland Junior High School to watch the games without much of an incident.

Morrice Coach Brad Long provided me with this information about his Oriole players. Travis Farrow is in his third year of varsity basketball. He is a strong perimeter defender who handles and passes the ball well. Drew McGowan is a force in the post with his defense and rebounding. Caden Binkley is a fine three point shooter who plays tough perimeter defense. Travis Smith is a fine defender who can guard people in the post or on the perimeter.

Oliver Long is a strong rebounder who can go outside to hit the three point shot. Joel Fisher is an excellent ball handler who is a quick perimeter defender as well. Logan Smith is a good rebounder and defender in the post. He is also Morrice’s best free throw shooter. C.J. Chapko provides interior depth and gives Morrice another post defender and rebounder. Johnathan Oldham, Adam Gooding and Marcus Rogers are great teammates who work really hard at the game.

Brayden Simon is an excellent athlete who rebounds and defends well in the post. He can also defend the perimeter when necessary. He can score from the three point line or near the basket. Landon Simpson is a good perimeter defender and ball handler who is a threat from the three point line. Alex Fedewa is a fine three point shooter who defends well either in the post or on the perimeter.

Devin Cook is a strong post rebounder and defender. Jerryd Scheurer is an eighth grader who is a fine ball handler that runs the point for the Shamrocks much of the time. He has a solid three point shot and even though he is frequently the smallest player out there, never backs down from anyone. He is very confident and creative as a passer. Charlie Thelen has a great basketball IQ and an excellent three point shot. He is also a dependable post defender.

Brady Leonard is a good on-ball defender who has a solid three point shot. Nathan Fears is also a strong on-ball defender. Mason Simon is a good perimeter defender who can hit the three point shot. Davide Cannilla is an exchange student who works hard and always gives it everything he has.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the hazy lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the days of yore when I attempted to hoop. While I had some promise as a dunker, my entire basketball career was ruined when the basketball powers that be raised the hoop from five feet to ten feet!!

Morrice wins the opening tap. Caden Binkley passes to Oliver Long, who hits an eight foot banked shot from the side to give the Orioles the first two points of the game. St. Patrick misses a driving reverse layup. Jerryd Scheurer gets his hand on the ball for St. Patrick, but Morrice is able to recover. Morrice is whistled for a double dribble violation. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the top of the key. Payton Russman grabs the offensive rebound and passes to Jerryd Scheurer, who tosses in a threeball from the corner to give St. Patrick a 3-2 lead.

Morrice misfires on a triple try from the corner. St. Patrick reciprocates and misfires on a triple try from the corner. Morrice bounces a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the wing. Morrice misses a threeball from the top of the key. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Morrice misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Charlie Thelen breaks up the string of missed threeballs and triple tries by hitting a fast break layup to give the Shamrocks a 5-2 lead.

Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball and passes to Brayden Simon, who hits a fast break layup for the Shamrocks. Oliver Long hits a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line for the Orioles. Jerryd Scheurer passes to Brayden Simon, who is cutting to the basket for a layup that boosts the Shamrocks to a 9-4 lead.

Drew McGowan passes to Oliver Long for a Morrice layup. St. Patrick is called for an offensive foul. (I’m referring to one of the Shamrock players, not the saint, himself.) Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks and is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits two free throws. Devin Cook knocks a pass out of bounds to prevent a Morrice layup. Morrice retains possession. Drew McGowan passes to Oliver Long, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Morrice. The score is now St. Patrick 11 Oliver Long 9.

St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the side. Brady Leonard knocks a Morrice pass out of bounds; the Orioles retain possession. Devin Cook knocks a Morrice pass out of bounds; this time, the Orioles lose the ball. St. Patrick loses the ball out of bounds on a too fast break. Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is whistled for a traveling violation. Brady Leonard steals a Morrice pass.

St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the side. Jerryd Scheurer knocks the ball away from Morrice, but the Orioles are able to recover. Drew McGowan drives and hits a layup for Morrice to tie the game at 11-11.

St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get another opportunity. Jerryd Scheurer passes to Charlie Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the lead back to the Shamrocks. Charlie Thelen steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Oliver Long blocks a Shamrock fast break layup. St. Patrick recovers the loose ball, but there is no time to shoot before the first quarter buzzer announces its presence.

After one quarter, St. Patrick holds a 14-11 lead.

St. Patrick inbounds the ball to open quarter number two. Charlie Thelen hits a layup for the Shamrocks. A bad Morrice pass results in an over and back violation. Jerry Scheurer passes to Charlie Thelen, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Oliver Long passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 7:07 to play in the second quarter, St. Patrick has an 18-11 lead.

Drew McGowan rebounds the second missed free throw and hits a putback for Morrice. Travis Farrow steals the ball for the Orioles. Morrice misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow consults its garden club committee and awards the ball to Morrice. Morrice misses a fourteen foot shot in the lane. St. Patrick is assessed with a traveling violation. Morrice throws a pass through the lane and out of bounds. Brayden Simon is fouled on a driving ten footer in the lane and hits one of his two free throws to boost the Shamrocks to a 19-13 lead with 6:00 remaining in the second quarter.

Devin Cook knocks the ball away from Morrice and Charlie Thelen grabs it for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a three point shot from the top of the key. Oliver Long passes to Drew McGowan, who hits a layup for Morrice. Brady Leonard passes to Charlie Thelen, who throws in a threeball from the corner for the Shamrocks. Joel Fisher passes to Drew McGowan, who hits a layup for Morrice to cut the Shamrock lead to 22-17.

Jerryd Scheurer drives and hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Charlie Thelen steals an Oriole pass. St. Patrick loses the ball out of bounds on a too fast break. Jerryd Scheurer knocks the ball away from Morrice and there is a scrum for the ball. The Shamrocks end up with the ball. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Morrice misses a three pointer from the wing and fouls on the rebound.

Oliver Long gets his hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds. St. Patrick retains possession. The Shamrocks are whistled for a traveling violation. Charlie Thelen knocks the ball away from Morrice and Jerryd Scheurer picks it up for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks commit an offensive foul. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side. Caden Binkley gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses a layup. Payton Russman drives from the side, is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give the Shamrocks a 26-17 lead with 2:02 left in the first half.

Morrice throws a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the side and fouls on the rebound. Brayden Simon knocks an Oriole pass out of bounds; Morrice retains possession. The Orioles miss a three pointer from the wing. Drew McGowan gets his hand on the ball, but St. Patrick is able to recover. Drew McGowan blocks a Shamrock shot. Brayden Simon steals the ball for St. Patrick and is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits one of his two free throws to give the Shamrocks a 27-17 lead with 1:05 to go in the half.

Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball and gets it to Brady Leonard for a Shamrock fast break layup. Morrice misses a layup. Drew McGowan steals the ball for the Orioles. Morrice misses a heave as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

At halftime, St. Patrick holds a 29-17 lead.

At halftime, Oliver Long has 9 points for Morrice and Drew McGowan has 8 points.

Charlie Thelen leads St. Patrick with 12 points. Jerryd Scheurer has 7 points and Brayden Simon has 6 points.

The Shamrocks held their Parent Night ceremony at halftime. Payton Russman delivered a nice thank you speech to Coach Curtis Meyers and his staff.

For those of you who were not able to see the ceremony or hear Mr. Russman’s thoughtful speech, here is a classic Western tune from my You Tube Channel for those of you who might be able to tolerate the Bleacher Denizen’s yodeling! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPaiHsbOnA

St. Patrick inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Travis Smith steals a Shamrock pass. Morrice misses a three pointer from the side. Caden Binkley steals the ball for the Orioles. Devin Cook knocks the ball out of bounds; Morrice retains possession. The Orioles miss a seventeen foot shot from the wing. St. Patrick misses a driving layup.

Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break five footer from the baseline. The rebound goes out of bounds and Morrice takes possession. Charlie Thelen steals the ball for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a three point shot from the wing. Alex Fedewa knocks the ball away from Morrice and Jerryd Scheurer picks it up for St. Patrick. The Shamrocks miss a three point shot from the side. Brayden Simon grabs the offensive rebound and passes to Charlie Thelen, who hits a layup to give St. Patrick a 31-17 lead.

Alex Fedewa steals an Oriole pass. The Shamrocks commit an offensive foul. A Morrice pass goes out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a reverse layup. Morrice misses a three point shot from the wing. Brayden Simon is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to boost the St. Patrick lead to 33-17 with 4:37 to go in the third quarter.

Caden Binkley hits a fifteen foot shot from the wing for Morrice. St. Patrick is assessed with a traveling violation. Morrice misses a ten foot shot from the wing. Travis Farrow steals the ball for Morrice and is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits one of his two free throws to shave the Shamrock lead to 33-20 with 3:46 to play in quarter number three.

Travis Farrow blocks a Shamrock layup. Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball and is fouled on a fast break layup. He hits two free throws for the Shamrocks. Alex Fedewa knocks an Oriole pass out of bounds. Morrice retains possession. St. Patrick’s defense forces a turnover when Morrice fails to inbound the ball in the required five seconds. Alex Fedewa is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for the Shamrocks. With 3:08 remaining in the third quarter, St. Patrick has a 36-20 lead.

Caden Binkley drives and hits a layup for Morrice. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. Joel Fisher passes to Caden Binkley, who hits a sixteen foot shot from the side for Morrice. St. Patrick misses a layup. Morrice turns the ball over. Travis Farrow blocks a Shamrock shot, but St. Patrick is able to recover. St. Patrick misses a layup. Logan Smith passes to Travis Farrow, who hits a three point shot from the side to chop the Shamrock lead to 36-27.

St. Patrick misses a threeball near the top of the key. Brady Leonard dives and steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the side. Jerryd Scheurer pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a layup.

Morrice misses a three point shot from the corner; the Shamrocks foul on the rebound. Morrice misses another three point shot from the corner. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the wing. Morrice misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the corner. Morrice is not able to shoot before the third quarter buzzer blasts.

After three quarters, St. Patrick has a 36-27 lead.

Morrice has the ball to start off the fourth quarter. Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Drew McGowan blocks a Shamrock fast break five footer from the side. The loose ball goes out of bounds and St. Patrick gets it back. Jerryd Scheurer passes to Brayden Simon, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to give St. Patrick a 37-27 lead with 7:37 remaining in the game.

Devin Cook steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Jerryd Scheurer gets into the lane, gets airborne and scoops in a ten foot shot for the Shamrocks. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side. Caden Binkley gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles. Morrice misses another three point shot from the side. Oliver Long gets the offensive rebound for the Orioles and passes to C.J. Chapko, who hits a layup to trim the Shamrock lead to 39-29.

Brayden Simon is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws for the Shamrocks. Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the wing. Devin Cook steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Travis Smith blocks a Shamrock layup. St. Patrick recovers the loose ball. Drew McGowan blocks a Shamrock shot. Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. With 5:06 left on the clock, the St. Patrick lead is at 40-29.

The rebound from the missed free throw goes out of bounds and Morrice takes possession. Devin Cook knocks the ball away from Morrice and Brayden Simon is fouled. He makes both ends of a one and one opportunity to give St. Patrick a 42-29 lead with 4:47 remaining in the game.

Devin Cook steals the ball from the Orioles. St. Patrick tosses a pass a bit too high; when the receiver leaps to corral it, he steps on the sideline. Morrice misses a three point shot from the side. Jerryd Scheurer drives and dishes the ball to Devin Cook, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Morrice loses the ball out of bounds. Charlie Thelen is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give St. Patrick a 45-29 lead with 3:14 to go.

Morrice is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. Alex Fedewa is fouled on a drive and hits one of his two free throws for St. Patrick. Charlie Thelen steals the ball and passes to Jerryd Scheurer for a Shamrock layup. Payton Russman ties the ball up. The Possession Arrow loves his aggressive defense and awards the ball to St. Patrick. The Shamrocks throw a pass out of bounds.

Jerryd Scheurer knocks the ball away from Morrice and Alex Fedewa picks it up for St. Patrick. Logan Smith knocks the ball out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession. Javier Santana knocks the ball away from St. Patrick and C.J. Chapko picks it up for Morrice. Davide Cannilla ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is polishing its doorknob collection and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Morrice.

Jerryd Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the side. Payton Russman steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick loses a pass out of bounds. Morrice misses a threeball from the side. Javier Santana grabs the offensive rebound for Morrice. Javier Santana hits a sixteen foot shot from the corner for Morrice to shave the Shamrock lead to 48-31.

St. Patrick turns the ball over and is able to pull their seniors out of the game as they bask in the crowd’s applause. Morrice misses a three point shot from the wing. St. Patrick dribbles out the clock.

St. Patrick wins this game by a 48-31 score.

Oliver Long had 9 points to lead the Morrice scoring. Drew McGowan scored 8 points. Caden Binkley put in 6 points. Travis Farrow added 4 points. Javier Santana and C.J. Chapko each tallied 2 points.

Charlie Thelen had 15 points to lead the St. Patrick scoring. Jerryd Scheurer supported his teammate with 13 points. Brayden Simon joined his teammates in double figures with 12 points. Payton Russman, Alex Fedewa, Devin Cook and Brady Leonard each tossed in 2 points.

In tonight’s CMAC Game of the Week, third place St. Patrick hosted first place Dansville! Here is a play by play of that game! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/02/25/dansville-at-portland-st-patrick-cmac-girls-co-game-of-the-week-the-bleacher-denizen-february-24-2023-by-chuck-krafft/