Fowler at Dansville – – CMAC Boys’ Game of the Week – – The Bleacher Denizen – – January 23, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, after a night off because of blustery weather and slippery roads, the Bleacher Denizen is heading to Dansville where the Aggies will host the Eagles from Fowler. Dansville enters the game with a 4-4 record in the CMAC and a 5-6 record overall. Fowler is 6-2 in the CMAC and 7-5 overall.

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this vintage Blues song from my You Tube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtsKUnqw7g

Drew Frantz is one of the most creative scorers in the area as he seems to have the ability to invent whatever move he needs to score when he drives to the hoop. He gets fouled a lot, shoots free throws well and is a fine ball handler and passer as well. Calvin van Hartesvelt is a classic interior player who defends the rim well, rebounds well, and scores well in the post.

Elijah Neal has a good three point shot; on defense, he is really tall for a guard. His quickness and height serve him well as a perimeter defender. Dylan Ream is a strong three point shooter who can score near the basket as well. He is a tough perimeter defender and a rugged rebounder as well.

Quinnton Burgett has a great three point shot and is a devoted perimeter defender as well. Mayson Burgett is a freshman who shows a lot of poise as a ball handler and passer when he runs the point. He also has a good three point shot and is a solid perimeter defender.

Jacob Halfmann is a junior entering this third year of running the point for the Eagles. (He just finished his third year as the football quarterback as well.) He is one of the calmest, most poised athletes I have ever seen. He makes very few mistakes on offense or on defense. He is a solid ball handler who is big enough to defend and score near the basket. He is also a capable three point shooter and can score when he has the ball inside as well. On defense, his size and quickness make life difficult for opposing guards.

Alex Halfmann is a junior entering his third year of starting in the post for Fowler. He is a strong rebounder and interior defender. He gets a lot of putbacks and has some solid post moves as well. He has developed range from the three point line as well. Aaron Simon is an accurate three point shooter who defends the perimeter well.

Asher Koenigsknecht is a quick, tough and enthusiastic perimeter defender who frequently creates chaos for opposing offenses. He is quick and never seems to run out of energy. He is a solid shooter and can use his quickness to drive to the basket. Zach Halfmann, (Jacob’s brother) is a senior who brings athleticism and quickness to his perimeter position. He is a fine three point shooter who jumps and scraps well enough to score in the paint as well.

Nathan Hamilton is a solid perimeter who can hit the three point shot. Nate Spicer is a determined defender who slashes to the basket well. Brady Feldpausch is a good perimeter who can really heat up from the three point line. Augustine Spitzley is tall and athletic; he is tough on defense in the post and quick enough to defend on the perimeter when circumstances require it.

I got to the gym in time to see the second half of the JV game. Fowler had a commanding lead at halftime and won the JV game 78-23.

Chris Matyas led the Dansville JVs with 5 points. Nathan Sherwood scored 4 points. Evan Sykes, Ayden Mayr and Joey McMillan each added 3 points. Cash Clark and Kayden Keith each had 2 points. Caleb Stolz tallied 1 point.

Dylan Pline led the victorious Vowler JVs with 14 points. Isaac Thelen put in 13 points and Colt Noback added 12 points. Jonah Thelen and Garrett Klein each scored 10 points. Aidan Riley tossed in 9 points and Levi Travis added 8. Quentin Smith scored 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the medieval times when many folks considered him to be “young.”

Fowler wins the opening tap. Asher Koenigsknecht passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a fast break layup to give the Eagles the first two points of the game. Dansville misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Drew Frantz gets his hand on a ball; Fowler is able to recover. Drew Frantz steals the ball for Dansville. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball for Fowler and hits a layup to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

Dansville turns the ball over. Fowler bounces a pass through the lane and out of bounds. Dansville loses the ball. Fowler misses a driving layup. Zach Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Asher Koenigsknecht drives and hits a layup for the Eagles. Drew Frantz drives and hits a layup to trim the Fowler lead to 6-2.

Dylan Ream steals a Fowler pass. Dansville misfires on a triple try from the side. Fowler reciprocates and misfires on a triple try from the side. Dansville misses a ten foot hook shot from the side of the lane. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Aggies take possession. Aaron Simon knocks the ball away from Dansville and Nathan Hamilton picks it up for Fowler. Nathan Hamilton hits a fast break layup for the Eagles. He is fouled on the play, but misses his free throw. With 4:09 remaining in the opening quarter, Fowler has an 8-2 lead.

Dansville misses a six foot shot from the side of the lane. Fowler fouls offensively. (I’m sorry; I could not resist that bit of wordplay.) Jacob Halfmann knocks the ball away from a Dansville dribbler and out of bounds. Dansville retains possession. Alex Halfmann knocks the ball out of bounds and Dansville gets it back. Drew Frantz passes to Elijah Neal, who hits a threeball from the side for Dansville. Fowler misses a three pointer from the wing. Elijah Neal drives and hits a layup for Dansville to cut the Fowler lead to 8-7.

Calvin vanHartesvelt blocks a Fowler fast break layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another opportunity. The Eagles miss a driving layup. Jacob Halfmann blocks a Dansville driving layup. Calvin vanHartesvelt blocks another Fowler fast break layup. Dansville misfires on a threeball from the top of the key. Calvin vanHartesvelt gets the offensive rebound for the Aggies. Dansville misses a six foot shot from the side. Aaron Simon hits a fast break layup to boost the Eagle lead to 10-7.

Jacob Halfmann gets his hand on the ball, but Drew Frantz recovers it for Dansville. Asher Koenigskecht and Jacob Halfmann each get their hand on an Aggie pass and it goes out of bounds; Dansville retains possession. Drew Frantz inbounds the ball to Mason Ruttan, who is fouled as he shoots a layup. Mason Ruttan hits two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 10-9 with 59.0 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Drew Frantz steals the ball for Dansville. The Aggies throw a pass out of bounds. Fowler holds the ball for about twenty-five seconds waiting to shoot the last shot of the quarter. Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Dansville misses a long heave as time expires.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 13-9 lead.

Dansville had the ball to begin the second quarter. Asher Koenigsknecht closely guards a Dansville ball handler for five seconds and the Aggies turn the ball over. Fowler misses a layup. Dansville misses a driving layup. Elijah Neal hits a putback to trim the Eagles lead to 13-11.

Alex Halfmann drives and hits a reverse layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann knocks the ball loose; there is a scrum for the ball and Jacob Halfmann picks it up for the Eagles. Fowler misses a shot; Augustine Spitzley pulls down the offensive rebound and hits a layup for the Eagles a couple seconds later. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 19-11 lead.

Dansville loses a pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Drew Frantz passes to Elijah Neal, who hits a three pointer from the wing for Dansville. Alex Halfmann passes to Asher Koenigsknecht, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 22-14 lead.

Dansville misfires on a triple try from the wing. Drew Frantz absorbs a charging foul to negate a Fowler fast break layup. Dansville misses a layup. Mayson Burgett refuses to concede the rebound; his hustle causes Fowler to lose the ball out of bounds. Dansville misses an eight foot turnaround shot in the lane. Calvin vanHartesvelt blocks an Eagle layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Fowler gets it back.

Quinnton Burgett’s tough defense causes a Fowler ball handler to shuffle his feet. Dansville misses a six foot shot in the lane. Drew Frantz knocks a Fowler pass out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Fowler misses a reverse layup. Quinnton Burgett hits a fast break layup to trim the Eagle lead to 22-16.

Fowler misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another possession. Fowler misses a three pointer near the top of the key. Drew Frantz drives through a maze of Eagle defenders in the lane and hits a layup to cut the Eagle lead to 22-18.

Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Dansville misses a six footer in the lane. Drew Frantz grabs the offensive rebound for the Aggies. Dansville misses a threeball from the corner. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Jacob Halfmann knocks the ball away from Dansville, but the Aggies are able to recover. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball and passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a fast break layup to push the Fowler lead to 24-18.

Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles; he does a brilliant change of pace dribble and darts to the basket for a Fowler fast break layup. Dansville misses a driving layup. Jacob Halfmann brings the ball up the court; he launches a three point shot at the buzzer from thirty feet away and hits it. (Actually, he shot the ball at the basket, not the buzzer, but it’s three points for Fowler anyway you look at it.)

Elijah Neal has 10 points to lead the Dansville scoring and Drew Frantz has 4 points.

Aaron Simon has 9 points to lead Fowler. Asher Koenigsknecht and Jacob Halfmann each have 7 points.

The Dansville fifth graders put on a spirited basketball game for the fans during halftime. They had to follow the rules because Megan Zeitz, the Aggie Girls’ All-Stater was refereeing!!!

For those of you who were not able to see the fun game on the court at halftime, here are a couple original tunes from my You Tube Channel!!

“A Man Like Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdeYRUEOkc

“Won’t Be Alone Too Long” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_qnhfMT2k

Fowler inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. Drew Frantz knocks the ball away from the Eagles, but Fowler is able to recover. The Eagles misfire on a threeball from the side. Dylan Ream passes to Mayson Burgett, who hits a layup for the Aggies. Fowler misses a driving six foot hook shot in the lane. Dansville misse a three point shot from the corner. Aaron Koenigsknecht passes to Aaron Simon, who connects on a three pointer from the corner for Fowler to give the Eagles a 32-20 lead.

Calvin vanHartesvelt passes to Drew Frantz, who hits a fifteen foot shot from the side for Dansville. Calvin vanHartesvelt blocks an Eagle layup. Alex Halfmann blocks a Dansville fast break layup. There is a technical foul on Dansville. Aaron Simon hits one of his two free throws to boost the Eagle lead to 33-22 with 5:27 to play in quarter number three.

Fowler inbounds the ball. Alex Halfmann drives and hits a reverse layup for the Eagles. Zach Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann hits a six foot shot in the lane for Fowler. Dansville spins into the lane and is fouled on a layup; the Aggies miss both free throws. Quinnton Burgett steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to trim the Fowler lead to 37-24.

Mayson Burgett blocks a Fowler layup. The Eagles recover, but miss a driving layup and foul on the rebound. Quinnton Burgett drives and hits a ten foot shot from the side for Dansville. Fowler misses a layup. Alex Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Nate Spicer pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Nate Spicer passes to Jacob Halfmann, who hits a threeball from the side to boost the Eagle lead to 42-26.

Mayson Burgett drives and hits a layup for Dansville. Mason Ruttan blocks an Eagle shot in the lane. Dylan Ream reacts quickly to prevent a loose ball from becoming an Aggie turnover. Quinnton Burgett hits a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane for Dansville. Nate Spicer gets into the lane and hits a six foot banked shot for Fowler. Dansville misses an eight footer from the baseline. Nate Spicer hits a fast break layup to give his Eagles a 46-30 lead.

Dansville is fouled, but misses two free throws. Calvin vanHartesvelt fights for the rebound and causes Fowler to lose the ball out of bounds. Dansville misses a three point shot from the side. Jacob Halfmann passes to Aaron Simon, who hits a three point shot from the wing just before the third quarter buzzer makes its presence known. (Fowler has hit a buzzer beating three pointer at the end of each of the three quarters.)
With three quarters in the books, Fowler has a 49-30 lead.

Dansville inbounds the ball to start out the final quarter. Asher Koenigsknecht steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a fast break layup. Aaron Simon gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a threeball from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Dansville takes possession. Calvin vanHartesvelt passes to Quinnton Burgett, who pours in a threeball from the side for Dansville to shave the Fowler lead to 49-33.

Fowler misses a driving layup. Dansville misses a jump shot from the free throw line. Mason Ruttan steals the ball for Dansville. Quinnton Burgett hits a layup for Dansville. Jacob Halfmann drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the side. Alex Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for Fowler. Mason Ruttan steals the ball for Dansville. Quinnton Burgett is fouled on a fast break layup and hits one of his two free throws to cut Fowler’s lead to 51-36 with 5:52 left on the clock.

Fowler drives and dishes a pass out of bounds. Mayson Burgett passes to Calvin vanHartesvelt, who hits a layup for the Aggies. Fowler misses a three point shot from the corner. Dylan Ream hits a fast break layup for Dansville. Zach Halfmann passes to Alex Halfmann, who hits a layup to give Fowler a 53-40 lead.

Mayson Burgett passes to Dylan Ream, who hits a three pointer from the corner for Dansville to chop the Fowler lead to ten points. Fowler is assessed with a traveling violation. Zach Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Aaron Simon hits a putback to give Fowler a 55-43 lead.

Dansville misses a three pointer from the corner. Fowler misse a driving layup. Zach Halfmann knocks the ball away from Dansville and Jacob Halfmann picks it up for Dansville. Nathan Hamilton is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws for Fowler. Nate Spicer ties the ball up. The Possession Arrow looks up from its evening snack and decides to add Grey Poupon Mustard to its sandwich. It then decrees that the ball shall belong to Fowler. Asher Koenigsknecht is fouled and hits two free throws to give Fowler a 58-43 lead with 1:27 remaining in the game.

Jacob Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler is fouled on a fast break layup, but misses two free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Dansville takes the ball. The Aggies misfire on a threeball from the side. Fouler is fouled and misses two free throws. Elijah Neal drives and hits a layup for Dansville. Asher Koenigsknecht is fouled and hits two free throws to give Fowler a 60-45 lead with 35.8 seconds left.

Ford Phillips knocks the ball away from Dansville and out of bounds; the Aggies retain possession. Brady Feldpausch knocks the ball out of bounds; Dansville gets it back again. Austin Hovey is fouled on a driving six foot hook shot and hits two free throws for Dansville with 11.9 seconds left in the game. Fowler runs out the clock.

Fowler wins the game 60-47.

Quinnton Burgett led the Dansville scoring with 14 points. Elijah Neal joined his teammate in double figures with 12 points. Drew Frantz notched 6 points and Dylan Ream scored 5 points. Mayson Burgett put in 4 points. Austin Hovey, Calvin vanHartesvelt and Mason Ruttan each contributed 2 points.

Aaron Simon led the Fowler scoring with 18 points. Jacob Halfmann supported him with 16 points. Asher Koenigsknecht chipped in with 11 points. Alex Halfmann added 6 points. Nate Spicer scored 4 points. Nathan Hamilton put in 3 points and Augustine Spitzley talled 2 points.