Lansing Christian at Portland St. Patrick – – CMAC Girls Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 11, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen is at Portland St. Patrick to watch the Shamrock Girls as they host Lansing Christian’s Pilgrims in the CMAC Girls Game of the Week. (Perhaps, since the boys Game of the Week was canceled last night, maybe I should refer to this as the CMAC Game of the week as it is now the only game with two CMAC participants that I’m doing this week. I should probably take this up with the official game-naming powers that be.)

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this Christian Tune from my You Tube Channel!

“Yes I Know” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTcOako-a-w

I got to Portland in time to get a haircut at the Grand Barber Lounge and also to enjoy a wonderful seafood chimichanga at Don Jose’s Mexican Grill. If you are in Portland, you should try this wonderful new restaurant! They certainly gave me a fine meal and great service at a reasonable price!!

Lansing Christian enters this game with a 1-4 record in the CMAC. The Pilgrims are 3-4 overall.

St. Patrick enters this game with a 3-1 record in the CMAC and the Shamrocks are 4-2 overall. Laynie Meredith is extremely energetic and provides a lot of defensive harassment to opposing guards. She is a threat to steal the ball any time, any place. On offense, she slashes to the basket well and is a threat from the three point line. Rylee Scheurer is tall enough to defend in the post, but she is one of the quickest and fastest players in the area, so she spends a lot of time on the perimeter where her length and quickness complicate life for opposing offenses. She is good slashing to the basket and can hit the three point shot.

Grace Rockey, a freshman in her second year on St. Patrick’s varsity is a tall, versatile player who is a scrappy post defender and rebounder. She is also quick and coordinated enough to defend well on the perimeter. She fights for and gets a lot of putbacks, but she is also good slashing to the basket and has three point range on her shot. Addy Scheurer is a tough perimeter defender who frequently runs the point for the Shamrocks. She is a fine three point shooter as well.

Tori Sandborn is a tough perimeter defender who is also a dependable ball handler. Mattie Honsowitz is a fine post defender on rebounder. On offense, her great footwork results in a lot of layups for the Shamrocks. Hannah Weller is an accurate midrange shooter. Bella Russman and Megan Myers provide solid post defense and rebounding.

Lydia Brogan is a strong all-around player for Lansing Christian. She is a fine rebounder and defender (inside and on the perimeter) from her wing position; she is also a scoring threat, especially on slashes to the basket. Ava Mustapha is a tough perimeter defender and rebounder as well. She is also a threat slashing to the basket. Sophie Hazelton is a strong post defender and rebounder who has a nice three point shot.

Alyssa Shank runs the point for the Pilgrims. She is a good ball handler, passer and perimeter defender. Sophia Carrillo is a tough post defender and rebounder. Maddie Crawford is a strong perimeter defender with a good three point shot.

I got to the gym in time to see the JV game. Lansing Christian pushed its way to an 11-6 first quarter lead. St. Patrick outscored Christian in the second quarter 7-2 and the game was tied 13-13 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Nico Fata hit a fifteen foot shot from the side with about twenty seconds left to give Christian a 20-19 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Morgan Krieger hit a jump shot from the free throw elbow with 4:15 left on the clock to give St. Patrick a 23-22 lead, but Esther Lee scored two consecutive baskets with about three minutes left and hit another with a couple minutes left to give Christian a 28-23 lead. Naomi Hass hit a layup with 1:10 to go to pull St. Patrick to within three points. Esther Lee was fouled with three seconds left and hit two free throws. Lansing Christian won the JV game by the final score of 30-25.

Lily Sandborn and Macie Smith each had 5 points to lead the Shamrock JVs. Morgan Krieger scored 4 points. Maria Austen, Alice Newman, Marian Davlin, Kennedy Drake and Naomi Hass each added 2 points. Joanna Dugan tallied 1 point.

Esther Lee scored all of the Pilgrim JV fourth quarter points (ten) and led Christian with 12 points. Juliette Tallon and Kylie Damesworth each tossed in 5 points. Nico Fata and Lael Ritter each scored 4 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the tired but usually willing eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who failed to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the medieval times when he was considered to be “young.” Alas, the coaches vehemently disapproved of his habit of throwing the ball to anyone on the court who happened to be near, so he never earned much playing time.

Lansing Christian wins the opening tap. Grace Rockey gets her hand on a Pilgrim pass and knocks it out of bounds; St. Patrick takes possession. Sophia Carrillo knocks gets her hand on the ball for Christian, but St. Patrick is able to recover. Grace Rockey launches and hits a three point shot from the side to give St. Patrick the first three points of the game.

Addy Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Mattie Honsowitz pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Grace Rockey hits a layup for St. Patrick; the score is Grace Rockey 5 Lansing Christian 0.

Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick loses the ball out of bounds on a too fast break. Laynie Meredith knocks the Pilgrim inbound pass out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Rylee Scheurer knocks the ball out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Addy Scheurer ties the ball up. After consulting its legal and management committees, the Possession Arrow decrees that the Shamrocks shall have the ball.

St. Patrick misses a threeball from the side. Christian reciprocates and misses a threeball from the side. Lydia Brogan pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian is whistled for a traveling violation. Laynie Meredith goes coast to coast and scoops in a layup to give St. Patrick a 7-0 lead.

Christian misses a three pointer from the corner. Lydia Brogan hits a putback to give Christian its first two points. St. Patrick misses a layup. Grace Rockey is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws. With 4:52 to play in the first quarter, St. Patrick has an 8-2 lead.

Laynie Meredith and Addy Scheurer ferociously double team the Pilgrims and they lose the ball out of bounds. Grace Rockey passes to Rylee Scheurer, who hits a three pointer from the wing for St. Patrick. Mattie Honsowitz blocks a Pilgrim layup. Addy Scheurer grabs the ball and goes coast to coast for a layup that gives the Shamrocks a 13-2 lead.

Ava Mustapha passes to Lydia Brogan, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key for Christian. St. Patrick misses a threeball from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get another opportunity. Lainey Meredith passes to Rylee Scheurer, who hits a three point shot from the side to give St. Patrick a 16-5 lead.

Christian misses a threeball from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and St. Patrick takes possession. St. Patrick misses a three point shot near the top of the key. Ava Mustapha hustles and saves keeps the rebound in bounds to save the Christian possession. Mattie Honsowitz blocks a Christian layup. Laynie Meredith is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws to boost St. Patrick to an 18-5 lead with 2:10 to play in the quarter.

Christian commits a double dribble violation. St. Patrick misses a layup; the rebound goes out of bounds and Christian takes possession. Christian misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Maddie Crawford pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. St. Patrick misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Ava Mustapha passes to a teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses both her free throws. St. Patrick misses a three pointer from the wing. A traveling violation at the buzzer prevents Christian from heaving the ball at the basket.

After one quarter, St. Patrick has an 18-5 lead.

Christian inbounds the ball to start off the second quarter. Laynie Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks and hits a fast break layup. Laynie Meredith knocks the ball out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Addy Scheurer gets her hand on the ball to force a Christian traveling violation. St. Patrick misses a layup. Grace Rockey hits a putback to give the Shamrocks a 22-5 lead.

Christian misses a threeball from the side. The Scheurer connection comes through as Addy passes to Rylee, who drills a threeball from the wing for the Shamrocks. Laynie Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. She is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of her two free throws to give St. Patrick a 26-5 lead with 6:16 to play in the second quarter.

Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Tori Sandborn hustles to prevent a loose ball from becoming a Shamrock turnover. St. Patrick commits an offensive foul. Lainey Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Christian fumbles a pass out of bounds. St. Patrick misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Mattie Honsowitz gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Lydia Brogan steals the ball for the Pilgrims. Lydia Brogan hits a jumper from the free throw elbow to trim the Shamrock lead to 26-7.

Mattie Honsowitz hits a layup for St. Patrick. Laynie Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses a fast break layup. Grace Rockey gets the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Laynie Meredith passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a three point shot from the top of the key to give St. Patrick a 31-7 lead.

Rylee Scheurer steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Sophie Hazelton blocks a St. Patrick fast break layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Shamrocks get it back. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the corner. Grace Rockey steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick throws a pass out of bounds.

Christian misses a three pointer from the side. Ava Mustapha pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. Sophia Carrillo ties up the ball, but the Possession Arrow and its Bird Watching Club decide to award the ball to St. Patrick. Tori Sandborn passes to Laynie Meredith, who hits a three point shot from the side to give St. Patrick a 34-7 lead.

Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. Ava Mustapha hits a putback for the Pilgrims. Laynie Meredith is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Shamrocks. Abbi Pelle hustles to prevent a loose ball from becoming a Pilgrim turnover. Ava Mustapha drives from the side and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws. With 1:50 remaining in the first half, St. Patrick has a 35-10 lead.

Bella Russman passes to Rylee Scheurer, who hits a layup for the Shamrocks. Megan Myers knocks a Pilgrim pass out of bounds; Christian gets the ball back. St. Patrick’s defense prevents Christian from inbounding the ball in the required five seconds and the Pilgrims turn it over. St. Patrick misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Megan Myers pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick misses ten foot jumper. Mattie Honsowitz pulls down the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Rylee Scheurer is fouled on a shot and hits two free throws to boost her Shamrocks to a 29-10 lead with 18.7 seconds left on the first half clock.

Mattie Honsowitz blocks a Christian fifteen foot shot from the side. The Scheurer connection comes through for the Shamrocks at the buzzer as Addy passes to Rylee, who hits a thirty-foot shot from the wing as the halftime buzzer makes its presence known.

St. Patrick has a 42-10 lead at halftime.

Lydia Brogan has 7 points to lead Christian’s scoring at halftime.

Rylee Scheurer leads St. Patrick with 16 points. Laynie Meredith and Grace Rockey each have 11 points.

As there is no halftime entertainment, I hope you will enjoy these Christian songs from my You Tube Channel.

Here is “John 3:16”, an original tune! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYixQ0OWsd4

This is “The Trinity”, another original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5–h6fXMRnw

And for people, who enjoy the surf doo wop sounds of the Beach Boys, here’s another Christian original, “Christ’s Army!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN0-4a2TpaI

As we get ready for the third quarter to commence, your Bleacher Denizen is amazed that the scoreboard remembered that St. Patrick had the 42-10 halftime lead. How does the scoreboard do this?? (The mind boggles!!)

Christian inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. Laynie Meredith steals the ball for the Shamrocks. Grace Rockey passes to Rylee Scheurer, who is fouled on a layup. Because of a lane violation, Rylee Scheurer gets three free throws and hits two of them. With 7:40 to play in the third quarter, the St. Patrick lead is at 44-10.

Laynie Meredith and Rylee Scheurer double team the Pilgrims and force them to call timeout to preserve their possession. Addy Scheurer knocks the ball away from Christian, but the Pilgrims recover. Christian misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Addy Scheurer passes to Grace Rockey, who hits a ten foot shot in the lane to give St. Patrick a 46-10 lead.

Laynie Meredith gets her hand on the ball and Christian loses it out of bounds. Lydia Brogan blocks a Shamrock layup. Christian loses the ball out of bounds. St. Patrick misfires on a triple try from the side. Mattie Honsowitz blocks a Pilgrim shot; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Christian gets another opportunity. Grace Rockey forces a Pilgrim turnover. Once again, the Scheurer connection shows itself as Addy passes to Rylee, who swishes a threeball from the wing to boost St. Patrick to a 49-10 lead.

Christian misses a three point shot from the corner. Laynie Meredith cans a jumper from the free throw line for St. Patrick. Christian misses a ten foot shot from the side. St. Patrick is assessed with a traveling violation. Christian misses a jump shot. Ava Mustapha grabs the offensive rebound for the Pilgrims. Christian misses a layup. Lydia Brogan hits a putback for Christian and is fouled. She hits her free throw. With about 3:10 remaining in quarter number three, St. Patrick has a 51-13 lead.

Lydia Brogan steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Christian. St. Patrick misses a three point shot from the wing. Tori Sandborn grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Grace Rockey spins and hits a layup for St. Patrick. Christian misses a three point shot from the wing. Lydia Brogan grabs the offensive rebound for the Shamrocks. Christian commits a traveling violation.

St. Patrick misses a sixteen foot shot from the side. Christian misses a fast break layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow summons its executive and summer picnic committees and decides to give the ball to Christian. The Pilgrims through their inbound pass out of bounds. St. Patrick fumbles a pass out of bounds. Christian misses a three point shot from the side. St. Patrick misses a twelve footer from the baseline as time expires.

After three quarters, St. Patrick has a 53-15 lead.

Christian inbounds the ball to open the final quarter. Naomi Hass steals the ball for the Shamrocks. St. Patrick commits an over and back violation. Christian throws a pass out of bounds. Alyssa Shank steals the ball for Christian and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws. With 6:30 left in the contest, St. Patrick has a 53-16 lead.

Ava Waldron steals the ball and Lydia Brogan hits a fast break layup for Christian. Ava Waldron steals the ball for Christian. The Pilgrims miss a three point shot from the wing. Rylie Wayner hits a putback for Christian. St. Patrick’s lead is now at 53-20.

St. Patrick misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. The Pilgrims turn the ball over. Esther Lee gets her hand on the ball for Christian and forces a tie up. The Possession Arrow and its Summer Outing committee meet and decide to award the ball to the Pilgrims. Christian misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Ava Mustapha knocks a pass out of bounds; St. Patrick retains possession.

St. Patrick misses a driving layup and fouls on the rebound. Christian throws a pass out of bounds. Ava Waldron steals the ball for the Pilgrims. St. Patrick knocks the ball out of bounds; Christian retains possession. Ava Waldron inbounds the ball to Esther Lee, who is fouled on a layup. Ester Lee hits one of her two free throws for the Pilgrims. With just a few seconds left, St. Patrick’s lead is at 53-21.

St. Patrick misfires on a threeball from the wing. Christian misfires on a threeball from the side as time expires.

St. Patrick wins this CMAC matchup by a 53-21 final score.

Lydia Brogan led Christian’s scoring with 14 points. Ava Mustapha scored 3 points. Rylie Wayner contributed two points. Alyssa Shank and Esther Lee each tallied 1 point.

Steph Curry – – oops, Rylee Scheurer – – led St. Patrick with 21 points. (If you saw Rylee swishing those threeballs during the game, you’ll understand that this was a natural mistake.) Grace Rockey chipped in with 15 points and Laynie Meredith joined her teammates in double figures with 13 points. Addy Scheurer and Mattie Honsowitz each added 2 points.