DeWitt at Grand Ledge – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 15, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft
The Grand Ledge Comets and DeWitt Panthers are playing a girl/boy doubleheader tonight. Your Bleacher Denizen made it to the girls game as well. Here is a play by play of that game.
Now it’s time to look at the boys game. Both these teams are off to excellent starts for their season as the Comets are 4-1 and DeWitt is 5-0 coming into this game.
While we wait for the game to start, I hope you will enjoy this original tune from my You Tube Channel. It tells “the rest of the story” in regard to the unfortunate encounter between Grandma and the reindeer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp3FW5dhL3E
Grand Ledge Coach Luke Charter was generous with his time and information about his players.
Braden James is a 6’8″ sophomore that is drawing interest from some Big Ten schools. While he does the rebounding (including the offensive boards) and defense in the middle that you would expect from a big guy, he also has strong perimeter skills. He is a fine three point shooter and ball handler in addition to being one of those tall people who made your Bleacher Denizen’s basketball life complicated by frequently sending his layups to the Great Airball in the Sky.
Elyjah Hendricks is usually the leading scorer. He is an excellent ball handler who slashes to the basket really well. He draws a lot of fouls which is good because he is also a fine free throw shooter. On defense, he uses quickness and intensity to general a lot of turnovers from Comet opponents.
Kingston Nixon is an excellent on-ball and general perimeter defender. Micah Brown is a big guy who rebounds and scores will in the post. He also gets a lot of offensive rebounds and putbacks for the Comets. Carson Daly and Jackson Myott are threats to score from the three point line. Izaiah O’Dell is a big guy who defends and rebounds well in the post; on offense he gives the Comets another three point threat.
Hayato Yoshida is an excellent ball handler and passer who is a threat to slash to the basket or hit shots from the three point line. Isaac Hansbarger is really fast. He uses his blurring speed to be a top quality perimeter defender. On offense, he slashes to the basket well and is a threat from three point rane. Landon Birchmeier is an important leader and a captain of the team. He is a versatile wing, especially on defense where he can help either in the post or on the perimeter.
DeWitt Coach Bill Flannery provided me this information about his Panther players.
Adam Flannery is an experienced point guard. He is a fine leader, who handles the ball well and is an excellent passer. He runs the offensive and is a threat to score either from the three point line or on slashes to the basket. Zach Nevison is a big threat from the three point line. Elliott Larner is a determined perimeter defender.
Luke Hanselman and Garrett Grewe are tough post defenders who rebound well and can score down low. Landon Kurncz is a freshman guard who can slash to the basket or hit shots from long range.
It is now time to review the events of this game through the eye – – not of the Tiger, but of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the days when he was considered to be “young.” He showed a lot of promise as a dunker until the hoops powers that be raised the rim from five feet to ten feet. Alas, my budding basketball career was over in a flash!!
DeWitt gets the opening tap and Adam Flannery passes to Elliott Larner, who hits a layup to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Elyjah Hendricks launches and hits a threeball from the wing to take the lead for the Comets. DeWitt misses a layup. Elyjah Hendricks drives across the lane and hits a sweet reverse hook banked layup shot to give the Comets a 5-2 lead.
Zach Nevison gets into the lane and hits a six foot banked shot for DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a threeball from the wing. DeWitt misses a threeball from the corner. Grand Leddge misses a three point shot from the side. Carson Daly gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Adam Flannery passes to Elliott Larner, who hits a three point shot from the side to give DeWitt the lead. Alex Moran hits a two point shot near the top of the key for Grand Ledge to tie the game at 7-7.
DeWitt misfires on a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Grand Ledge takes possession. Elyjah Hendricks is fouled hard on a driving shot and lands on the floor. He gets up and hits one of his two free throws to give the Comets an 8-7 lead with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.
DeWitt misses a short hook shot. Elyjah Hendricks drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. DeWitt misses a threeball near the top of the key. Alex Moran drives and hits a layup to give Grand Ledge a 12-7 lead.
Zach Nevision hits a threeball from the side for DeWitt. Garrett Grewe blocks a Grand Ledge layup. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the side. Adam Flannery gets his hand on a Comet pass and they lose the ball out of bounds. DeWitt misses a three pointer from the side. John Amama hits a putback for Dewitt to tie the game at 12-12.
A Comet offensive foul negates a basket. DeWitt missees a ten foot shot in the lane. Grand Ledge misses a three point shot from the wing. Hayato Yoshida gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Alex Moran passes to Micah Browh, who hits a three point shot to give Grand Ledge a 15-12 lead.
Adam Flannery responds by throwing in a threeball near the top of the key for DeWitt to tie the game. Garrett Grewe blocks a Grand Ledge layup. DeWitt is not able to shoot before the first quarter buzzer makes its presence known.
After one quarter, the game is tied at 15-15.
Grand Ledge inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. Luke Hanselman blocks a Grand Ledge layup. DeWitt misfires on a triple try from the wing. Grand Ledge throws a pass out of bounds. DeWitt misses a three point shot from the wing. Landon Kurncz gets the offensive rebound and passes to Adam Flannery, who hits a layup to give the Panthers a 17-15 lead.
Luke Hanselman gets his hand on a Comet pass and they lose the ball out of bounds. DeWitt misses a driving layup. Garrett Grewe blocks a Comet layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Grand Ledge gets another opportunity. Zach Nevison knocks the ball away from Grand Ledge and Adam Flannery picks it up for DeWitt. DeWitt misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Grand Ledge takes possession.
Grand Ledge misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Carson Daly hustles to secure the offensive rebound for the Comets and is fouled. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Carson Daly gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup; DeWitt fouls on the rebound. Grand Ledge misses a layup; Carson Daly gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Alex Moran passes to Carson Daly, who hits a three pointer from the wing to give the Comets an 18-17 lead.
Zach Nevison responds with a threeball from the wing for the Panthers to retake the lead. Kingston Nixon drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge to tie the game. Carson Daly blocks a DeWitt layup. Alex Moran drives and dishes the ball to Izaiah O’Dell, who is fouled on a layup. Izaiah O’Dell hits one of his two free throws to give the Comets a 21-20 lead with 3:45 to play in the half.
DeWitt misses a sixteen foot shot from the baseline. John Amama is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws for DeWitt to tie the game. The second free throw sticks between the rim and the basket, but it falls to the floor before your Bleacher Denizen can rush to the floor, extend his 67 year old body to its fullest and leap to the rim to grab it. (We all are entitled to the occasional fantasy, you know.) Anyway, the Possession Arrow calls its social committee together. They confer and decide to award the ball to DeWitt. Adam Flannery ignores your Bleacher Denizen’s futile fantasies and hits a three point shot from the wing to give the Panthers a 24-21 lead.
Carson Daley hits a jumper off the dribble with his foot on the three point line for Grand Ledge to trim the DeWitt lead to one point. DeWitt misses a threeball from the corner. John Amama gets the offensie rebound for the Panthers. Matt Huhn passes to Adam Flannery, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give DeWitt a 27-21 lead.
Grand Ledge misses a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane. Izaiah O’Dell knocks a Panther pass out of bounds, but DeWitt retains possession. DeWitt misses a threeball from the side. Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. DeWitt reciproates and misses a driving layup. Grand Ledge misses a fast break layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow consults its legal team and decrees that Grand Ledge shall have the ball. Alex Moran gets into the lane and hits an eight foot shot for Grand Ledge. Izaiah O’Dell blocks a DeWitt eight footer from the baseline at the buzzer.
DeWitt has a 27-25 halftime lead.
Elyjah Hendricks leads the Grand Ledge scoring with 8 points. Alex Moran has 6 points and Carson Daly has 5.
Adam Flannery leads DeWitt with 11 points at halftime. Zach Nevison has 8 points and Elliott Larner has 5.
The Grand Ledge Pom team combined with some alumni to put on a great, precise, well-choreographed routine!!
For those of you who were not able to see the show, I hope you will enjoy these Christmas tunes from my You Tube Channel as a substitute.
Here’s “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gwCTPg861g
And here’s “Snoopy’s Christmas!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1pZCnDBHL0
DeWitt has the ball to open the third quaarter. The Panthers miss a three pointer from the wing. There is a scramble for the rebound and the ball is time up. The Possession Arrow asks its Magic 8 Ball to decide you gets the ball; the ball is awarded to Grand Ledge. Elyjah Hendricks drives and hits a layup to tie the game for Grand Ledge. Adam Flannery drives and dishes the ball to Garrett Grewe for a layup to retake the lead. Grand Ledge misses a three point shot from the side. Carson Daly gets the offensive rebound for the Comets. Carson Daly hits a long three pointer from the wing to give Grand Ledge a 30-29 lead.
DeWitt misses a three point shot. Luke Hanselman gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Elyjah Hendricks dives and steals the ball for the Comets. Elliott Larner knocks the ball off a Comet player and the Panthers get the ball. Garrett Grewe drives the baseline and hits a layup that gives DeWitt a 31-30 lead.
Grand Ledge misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Comets get another opportunity. Grand Ledge misses a three pointer from the side. DeWitt misses a fast break layup. John Amama gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. Elyjah Hendricks steals the ball for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a fast break layup; DeWitt fouls on the rebound. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Elyjah Hendricks snags the offensive rebound for the Comets.
Adam Flannery draws a charging foul from Grand Ledge. Adam Flannery reacts quickly to a loose ball in the lane to prevent a DeWitt turnover. DeWitt misses a driving layup. Garrett Grewe gets the offensive rebound for the Panthers. DeWitt is fouled on a layup and misses two free throws. Carson Daly passes to Elyjah Hendricks, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of his two free throws to tie the game at 31-31 with 3:55 remaining in quarter number three.
Zach Nevison passes to Elliott Larner, who hits a three pointer from the side to give the lead back to DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Elliott Larner hits one of his two free throws to give the Panthers a 35-31 lead with 3:07 to play in the quarter.
John Amama gets the offensive rebound from the missed free throw for the Panthers. DeWitt misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Alex Moran spins into the lane and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Garrett Grewe hits a layup for DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. Elliott Larner passes to Matt Huhn, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost DeWitt to a 40-33 lead.
Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. Braden James gets the offensive rebound for DeWitt. Garrett Grewe blocks a Grand Ledge layup. DeWitt msises a three point shot from the side. Elyjah Hendricks is fouled on a post move and hits one of his two free throws to trim the DeWitt lead to 40-34 with 50.9 remaining in the third quarter.
The rebound from the missed free throw goes out of bounds and DeWitt gets the ball. DeWitt is fouled handling the ball, but misses two free throws. Grand Ledge misses a three pointer from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and DeWitt gets the ball. The Panthers miss a jump shot from the free throw elbow at the buzzer.
DeWitt will take a 40-34 lead into the fourth qurter.
DeWitt inbounds the ball to get the fourth quarter underway. Hayato Yoshida blocks a Panther layup. Luke Hanselman grabs the loose ball and hits a layup for DeWitt. Adam Flannery steals the ball for the Panthers. DeWitt is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. With 7:23 left in the game, DeWitt has a 42-34 lead.
Grand Ledge misses a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line. DeWitt msises a twelve foot shot in the lane. Elyjah Hendricks is fouled on a driving six footer from the side of the lane and hits two free throws for Grand Ledge. Garrett Grewe passes to Adam Flannery, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key for DeWitt. Braden James is fouled on a spin move layup and hits one of his two free throws for Grand Ledge. With 5:36 left on the clock, the DeWitt lead is at 45-37.
Hayato Yoshida steals the ball for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a driving layup. Adam Flannery passes to Elliott Larner, who hits a fast break layup for DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a reverse layup. Adam Flannery zips a long pass to Zach Nevison, who hits a fast break layup to give DeWitt a 49-37 lead.
Alex Moran hits a threeball from the wing for Grand Ledge. Hayato Yoshida draws a charging foul from DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a driving layup; Braden James hits a putback for the Comets to trim the DeWitt lead to 49-42.
Elliott Larner drives the baseline and hits a layup for DeWitt. John Amama nearly steals the ball for DeWitt, but Elyjah Hendricks recovers it for Grand Ledge; he drives and hits a layup for the Comets. Adam Flannery drives from the side and hits a layup for DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a jump shot. Hayato Yoshida steals the ball for the Comets. Grand Ledge misses a layup. Adam Flannery is fouled and hits two free throws to give DeWitt a 55-44 lead with 54.8 seconds left in the game.
Alex Moran hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Zach Nevison is fouled and hits two free throws for Dewitt. Elyjah Hendricks drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Adam Flannery is fouled. He hits two free throws and DeWitt has a 59-48 lead with 24.5 seconds to go.
Alex Moran drives and hits a layup for Grand Ledge. Zach Nevison is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for DeWitt. Grand Ledge misses a three point shot from the wing. DeWitt rebounds the ball as the final buzzer sounds.
DeWitt wins this game by the score of 60-50.
Elyjah Hendricks led the Grand Ledge scoring with 18 points. Alex Moran joined his teammate in double figures with 15 points. Carson Daly chipped in with 8 points. Micah Brown and Braden James each scored 3 points. Kingston Nixon added 2 points and Izaiah O’Dell tallied 1 point.
DeWitt’s Adam Flannery led all scorers with 20 points. Zach Nevison and Elliott Larner each contributed 13 points. Garrett Grewe scored 6 points. John Amama and Matt Huhn each had 3 points. Luke Hanselman scored 2 points.