Frankenmuth vs. Lansing Catholic – – Girls Basketball – – MHSAA Division 2 State Final – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 18, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Frankenmuth Eagles will face the Cougars from Lansing Catholic in the Division 2 State Final Girls Basketball game!! Frankenmuth enters the game with a 25-2 record and Lansing Catholic is at 22-5.

However, Lansing Catholic’s record is a bit misleading as four of the losses came in the first six games of the season. (One was a forfeit.) Also, the Cougars own a 74-42 February win over Frankenmuth that came on the Eagles’ home court.

While we wait for the game to start, we can listen to this Boogie Woogie tune from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

None of the statistics I am quoting from the MHSAA Second Half site include last night’s semifinal games.

Frankenmuth’s leading scorer is senior Lexi Boyke, who will be playing basketball at Central Michigan University next year. She is 6-1, but her range goes out to the three point line. She averages 13 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Mia McLaughlin is a junior who also already has a college basketball scholarship. She averages 10.6 points per game along with 3.9 assists. She is a big threat from the three point line and has 41 three pointers so far this year. Clare Conzelmann, who led the Eagles with 15 points in the semifinal game averages 9.8 points and 3.2 steals per game.

Frankenmuth’s other starters are sophomores Rosemary Brenner and Izzy Bernthal.

Junior Anna Richards is the leading scorer for Lansing Catholic. She averages 12.2 points a game and already has made 60 three point shots this year. Her twin sister Leah Richards is 6-0 and is also a threat from the three point line. She averages 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Gabby Halliwill, another junior averages 8.6 points per game and has made 51 three point shots so far.

Catholic’s other starters are Senior Hannah Pricco, who is an excellent, hustling defender and a stabilizing force on offense who can score when she is open and Morgan Wilcox, a tall player who is an excellent defender in the post and can help on the perimeter when needed.

For those of you who missed Friday’s semifinals, here are the play by plays of those games.

Frankenmuth: https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/03/17/__trashed-2/ (The link actually does work; my website did something goofy when I accidentally trashed the blog while I was typing it.)

Lansing Catholic: https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/03/18/grand-rapids-west-catholic-vs-lansing-catholic-girls-basketball-mhsaa-division-2-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-17-2023-by-chuck-krafft/

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat clear lenses of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league in the ancient days when he attempted to hoop. While many people criticized the Bleacher Denizen’s leaping ability, I’d like to point out that few people jumped well in the plate armor that was part of our basketball uniforms back in the middle ages!!

Frankenmuth gets the opening tap. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. Mia McLaughlin gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misfires on a threeball from the side. Lexi Boyke knocks the ball away from Catholic, but the Cougars are able to recover. Anna Richards passes to Gabby Halliwill, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

Hannah Pricco ties up the ball for the Cougars. The Possession Arrow looks up from its crossword puzzle and likes her hustle. The ball is awarded to Catholic. The Cougars miss a driving layup. Morgan Wilcox gets the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Catholic misses a threeball near the top of the key. Frankenmuth misses a six foot banked shot from the side. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow consults its legal staff and awards the ball to Frankenmuth. Anna Richards intercepts an Eagle pass. Gabby Halliwill passes to Leah Richards, who hits a layup to give Catholic a 5-0 lead.

Hannah Pricco knocks the ball away from Frankenmuth and Leah Richards grabs it for Catholic. Lexi Boyke blocks a Cougar layup. Anna Richards steals an Eagle pass. Morgan Wilcox passes to Leah Richards, who hits a layup for Catholic to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the side. Catholic misfires on a threeball from the corner. Morgan Wilcox stands tall in the lane and forces a Frankenmuth traveling violation. Morgan Wilcox drives and hits a ten foot shot in the lane to give Catholic a 9-0 lead.

Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the wing. Clare Conzelmann nearly steals the ball for the Eagles but the Cougars are able to recover. Catholic misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Catholic gets another opportunity. Anna Richards is fouled on a driving eight footer from the baseline and hits two free throws to push Catholic to an 11-0 lead with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Mia McLaughlin passes to Lexi Boyke, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to give Frankenmuth its first points. The Richards connection comes throw as Anna spies Leah cutting to the hoop and hits her with a pass that Leah converts into a layup. Lexi Boyke drives and scoops in a layup for Frankenmuth at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Catholic holds an 11-4 lead.

Catholic inbounds the ball to start out the second quarter. Leah Richards passes to Anna Richards, who hits a three pointer from the corner for the Cougars. Anna Richards steals the ball for Catholic. Anna Richards throws in a threeball from the top of the key to push the Cougars to a 17-4 lead.

Frankenmuth misses a long three point shot from the wing. Catholic misses a threeball near the top of the key. Hannah Pricco grabs the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Catholic misses a three point attempt from the side. Leah Richards gets the offensive rebound for Catholic. Anna Richards drives and banks in an eight foot shot from the side to boost the Cougar lead to 21-4.

Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the wing. Catholic misses a jump shot. A Frankenmuth dribbler steps on the baseline and turns the ball over. Catholic is assessed with a traveling violation. Anna Richards steals an Eagle cross court pass. Kierstyn Bully gets her hand on a Catholic pass, but the Eagles recover. Mia McLaughlin passes to Lexi Boyke, who hits a three point shot from the wing to trim the Catholic lead to 21-7.

Izzy Bernthal steals a Cougar pass. Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the side. Catholic loses the rebound out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a hook/layup shot. Catholic misses a three point shot from the wing. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Catholic misses an eight foot shot from the baseline. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Faith Jungwirth passes to Leah Richards, who rushes and hits a three pointer off the dribble from the top of the key for Catholic.

At halftime, Catholic holds a 24-7 lead.

As there is no halftime entertainment, maybe you’ll enjoy this Ragtime tune with a comedic twist from my You Tube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. The Eagles miss a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Catholic takes possession. Clare Conzelmann ties the ball up for Frankenmuth. The Possession Arrow and its croquet committee are munching crumpets and miss the play. The ball is awarded to Lansing Catholic.

Catholic misses a layup. Frankenmuth misses a three pointer from the corner. Catholic misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Izzy Bernthal passes to Lexi Boyke, who hits a layup for Frankenmuth. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to trim the Catholic lead to 24-10 with 6:16 to play in the quarter.

Morgan Wilcox passes to Hannah Pricco, who hits a layup for Catholic. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the side. Izzy Bernthal gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Izzy Bernthal gets another offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a layup. Anna Richards is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Catholic lead to 27-10 with 5:25 to play in quarter number three.

Morgan Wilcox gets the offensive rebound from the missed free throw. Rosemary Brenner steals the ball for Frankenmuth. Hannah Pricco steals the ball for Catholic. The Cougars miss a three point shot from the side. Morgan Wilcox grabs the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Catholic misses a three point attempt from the side. Frankenmuth misses a threeball from the corner and fouls on the rebound. Rosemary Brenner steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Frankenmuth. She is fouled on the play and makes her free throw to shave the Catholic lead to 27-13 with 3:47 remaining in the quarter.

(Those were the first points for Frankenmuth by anyone except Lexi Boyke.)

Clare Conzelmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses a driving layup. Catholic misses a three pointer from the side. Leah Richards pulls down the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Catholic misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Lexi Boyke drives and hits a layup for Frankenmuth. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to cut the Catholic lead to 27-16 with 1:57 left in the third quarter.

Lexi Boyke knocks the ball away from the Cougars, but Catholic is able to recover. Catholic misses a ten footer off the dribble from the side. Clare Conzelmann is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Frankenmuth to slice the Catholic lead to 27-18 with 1:08 remaining in quarter number three.

Lexi Boyke blocks a Catholic layup. The loose ball goes out of bounds and the Cougars get another opportunity. Catholic misses a layup. Frankenmuth misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw elbow. Anna Richards tosses up a shot from midcourt at the buzzer and hits the front of the iron.

After three quarters, Catholic has a 27-18 lead.

Frankenmuth inbounds the ball to start the fourth quarter. The Eagles miss a driving layup. Izzy Bernthal gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Frankenmuth misses an eight foot runner from the side. Morgan Wilcox passes to Leah Richards, who this a three point shot from the side to boost the Catholic lead to 30-18.

Frankenmuth misfires on a threeball from the wing. Morgan Wilcox passes to Leah Richards, who is cutting to the hoop and hits a layup for Catholic. Izzy Bernthal passes to Lexi Boyke, who throws in a threeball from the wing for the Eagles to cut the Catholic lead to 32-21.

Catholic misfires on a threeball from the side. Frankenmuth reciprocates and misfires on a threeball from the side. Clare Conzelmann and Rosemary Brenner apply an aggressive double team to Catholic; this allows Mia McLaughlin to steal the ball and hit a fast break layup for the eagles. Catholic is fouled, but misses the first free throw of a one and one opportunity. With 3:59 to play, Catholic holds a 32-23 lead.

Gabby Halliwill dives and steals the ball for Catholic. Leah Richards retrieves an errant outlet pass in the corner and prevents a Cougar turnover. Clare Conzelmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Frankenmuth to cut the Catholic lead to seven points at 32-25.

Anna Richards is fouled and hits two free throws for Catholic. Leah Richards knocks an Eagle pass out of bounds; Frankenmuth retains possession. Mia McLaughlin is fouled and hits two free throws for Frankenmuth to trim the Cougar lead back to seven points at 34-27 with 2:11 left on the clock.

Frankenmuth’s press forces Catholic to throw a pass out of bounds. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the corner. Anna Richards is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Catholic. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Gabby Halliwill is fouled and sinks two free throws to give Catholic a 37-27 lead with 1:36 remaining in the contest.

Frankenmuth throws a cross court pass out of bounds. Gabby Halliwill is fouled and sinks two more free throws for Catholic. Frankenmuth misses a three point shot from the wing. Leah Richards is fouled and hits two free throws with 52.9 seconds left to give Catholic a 41-27 lead.

Gabby Halliwill knocks the ball away from Frankenmuth and Morgan Wilcox picks it up for Catholic. Morgan Wilcox is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for the Cougars. Mia McLaughlin drives the baseline and hits a ten foot shot for Frankenmuth. Morgan Wilcox is fouled and hits one of her two free throws for Catholic. With 28.2 seconds left in the game, both coaches bring in their reserve players.

Frankenmuth throws a pass too high and out of bounds. Catholic runs out the last twelve seconds of the clock.

Lansing Catholic wins the Division 2 State Final game by a 43-29 score and are the 2023 State Basketball Champions!!

Lexi Boyke had 16 points to lead Frankenmuth’s scoring. Mia McLaughlin added 6 points. Clare Conzelmann scored 4 points and Rosemary Brenner tallied 3 points.

Leah Richards had 16 points to lead the Lansing Catholic scoring. Her twin sister Anna Richards joined her in double figures with 14 points. Gabby Halliwill tossed in 7 points. Morgan Wilcox scored 4 points and Hannah Pricco put in 2 points.


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