Fulton vs. Fowler – – Girls Basketball – – MHSAA District Semifinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 6, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Bleacher Denizen’s journey brings him to Fulton, where the Fulton Pirates and the Fowler Eagles will compete in the District Semifinal. This is a deja vu-ish moment as these same teams met in the boys’ semifinal last week! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/02/29/fulton-vs-fowler-boys-basketball-mhsaa-district-tournament-the-bleacher-denizen-february-28-2024-by-chuck-krafft/

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this original tune, “Hey There Baby Listen” from my You Tube Channel. My friend and frequent band member Mark Wilcox sings the lead vocal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PURLmxT_3Q

The Fulton Pirate Girls earned their spot in this semifinal game with this hard-fought win over Morrice. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/03/05/fulton-vs-morrice-girls-basketball-mhsaa-district-tournament-first-round-the-bleacher-denizen-march-4-2024-by-chuck-krafft/

They enter this game with a 13-10 record. Kaya Canfield and Jaci Canfield are twins who know what to do on a basketball court. Kaya Canfield is an athletic perimeter defender who is also a strong rebounder. She can score on slashes to the basket and gets more than her share of putbacks. Jaci Canfield is a fine perimeter defender and ball handler who is also able to slash to the basket. Both of them can hit shots from the free throw line.

Dayten Lambert defends the perimeter well and is a threat to score on slashes to the basket or shots from three point range. Olivia Leavitt and Sophia Akin are big threats from the three point line. As noted in the first quarter of the Morrice game, Sophia Akin is also adept at driving to the basket and dishing the ball out to teammates for open jump shots.

Kalyn Duflo is an excellent ball handler and passer who can shoot from midrange and also hit the three point shot. She is a determined, energetic perimeter defender as well. Addison Warnke and Lexi Sorah help out in the post where they are solid defenders and rebounders. Brooklyn Kanous brings energy and quickness to the Fulton perimeter defense. She has amazing determination and is quick enough to stay with nearly any ball handler as she creates turnovers for the opposition.

The Fowler Eagles enter this game with a 19-3 record and finished in second place in the CMAC. Their exceptional season earned them a first round bye and this is their first tournament game.

Grace O’Hare is one of Fowler’s two seniors; she is an excellent perimeter defender who is also tall enough to help out in the post. On offense, she handles the ball well and has a fine midrange shot. Rebecca Smith is the other Eagle senior. She brings experience and toughness to the Eagle post defense.

Katie Spicer is a fine ball handler and slasher who can be really creative finding ways to score as she slashes to the hoop. She is also a good three point shooter. Selena Stump is a sharp shooter who can get really hot from the three point line. Brooke Weber has a fine basketball IQ and defends well either in the post or on the perimeter. She also brings a solid three point shot to the Eagles.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get past church league when he attempted to hoop in the days of yore. He always struggled with his outside shot.

One incident was the final straw for his church league coach. The Bleacher Denizen hid a magnet in the basketball. The magnet did an excellent job of forcing the ball near the hoop after his shot, but he was caught when three consecutive shots clung unnaturally to the rim. His playing time never recovered from that debacle.

Fulton wins the opening tap. The Pirates miss a three point shot from the wing. Izzy Halfmann passes to Grace O’Hare, who hits a six foot shot from the baseline to give the Eagles the first two points of the game. Izzy Halfmann and Grace O’Hare team up to force Fulton into losing the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a jump shot. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball and hits a layup to give Fowler a 4-0 lead.

Katie Spicer steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Rebecca Smith pulls down the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Katie Spicer hits a twelve foot shot from the baseline for Fowler. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Fowler’s outlet pass goes too far and out of bounds. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball and hits a layup for Fowler. Jaci Canfield is fouled on an eight foot shot in the lane and hits one of her two free throws to trim the Fowler lead to 8-1 with 5:49 to play in the first quarter.

Elizabeth Hufnagel drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Kalyn Duflo passes to Kaya Canfield, who hits a fast break layup for Fulton. Brooke Weber hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Katie Spicer drives and dishes the ball to Paige Thelen, who hits a layup for Fowler. Dayten Lambert hits a six foot shot off the dribble in the lane for Fulton. Katie Spicer catches and inbound pass and throws in a threeball to give Fowler an 18-5 lead.

Izzy Halfmann dives and ties up the ball for Fowler. The Eagles miss a driving layup. Katie Spicer gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fowler gets another possession. Rebecca Smith drives and hits a layup for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball and is fouled on a layup for Fowler. She hits two free throws to give her Eagles a 22-5 lead with 3:32 left in the opening quarter.

Izzy Halfmann gets a hand on the ball and Fulton loses it out of bounds. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Izzy Halfmann gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Rebecca Smith steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Izzy Halfmann pulls down the offensive rebound and passes to Grace O’Hare, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Fowler a 25-5 lead.

Grace O’Hare knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; Fulton gets the ball back. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for Fowler. Olivia Leavitt blocks an Eagle fast break layup. Selena Stump steals the ball for Fowler. The Eagles are whistled for a traveling violation. Izzy Halfmann knocks a Pirate pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Olivia Leavitt drives and hits a six foot banked hook shot from the side for Fulton to trim the Fowler lead to 25-7.

Selena Stump hits a three point shot off the dribble from the wing for Fowler. Katie Spicer ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is clipping coupons for this week’s grocery shopping and misses the play. The ball is awarded to Fulton. Olivia Leavitt gets into the lane and is fouled on an eight foot jumper. Olivia Leavitt hits one of her two free throws. With 1:08 to play in the first quarter, Fowler’s lead is at 28-8.

Katie Spicer passes to Elizabeth Hufnagel, who is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for the Eagles. Cali Thelen blocks a Fulton layup. Dayten Lambert recovers the loose ball for Fulton and hits a layup. Fowler is called for a three seconds (in the lane) violation. Katie Spicer knocks the ball out of bounds and the Eagles get possession. Fowler misses a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane.

Grace O’Hare blocks a Fulton shot; the loose ball goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another possession. Kaya Canfield gets into the lane and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws with just 4.9 seconds to play in the quarter. Fowler misses a layup as the first quarter buzzer sounds off.

After one quarter, Fowler has a 29-11 lead.

Fowler has the ball to open the second quarter. The Eagles miss a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler drives and dishes a pass out of bounds. Izzy Halfmann gets her hand on the ball, but Fulton is able to recover. Grace O’Hare steals the ball for the Eagles. Jaci Canfield ties up the ball to thwart a Fowler layup. The Possession Arrow and its babysitter love her hustle and award the ball to Fulton.

Brooke Weber ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow takes a second away from making its grocery list and awards the ball to Fowler. Fowler misses an eighteen foot shot from the side. Brooke Weber ties up the rebound. The Possession Arrow is looking through the sales ad and misses the play; the ball is awarded to Fulton. Izzy Halfmann ties up the ball for Fowler. The Possession Arrow and the babysitter love her hustle and award the ball to the Eagles.

Fowler misses a fifteen foot shot from the wing. Kelcie Pung gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Katie Spicer passes to Brooke Weber, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Izzy Halfmann hits the floor to steal the ball for Fowler. Kaya Canfield steals the ball for Fulton. Kelcie Pung steals the ball for Fowler. Rebecca Smith hits a layup to push the Eagle lead to 33-11.

Rebecca Smith draws a charging foul from Fulton. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. Elizabeth Hufnagel steals the ball for Fowler. Fowler misses a fast break layup. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing. Fowler runs a too fast break and fumbles the outlet pass out of bounds. Fulton is called for traveling. Katie Spicer passes to Paige Thelen, who spins and hits a six foot shot in the lane for Fowler. Elizabeth Hufnagel steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give Fowler a 37-11 lead.

Paige Thelen knocks the ball away from Fulton and Selena Stump picks it up for Fowler. Izzy Halfmann inbounds the ball to Katie Spicer, who hits a layup for Fowler. Kelcie Pung nearly steals the ball for the Eagles, but the Pirates are able to recover. Fulton misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Selena Stump hits a three point shot from the top of the key to give Fowler a 42-11 lead.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Lynnae Podolak passes to Dayten Lambert, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fulton. Fowler misfires on a triple try from the wing. Selena Stump gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Fulton turns the ball over. Kelcie Pung hits a two point jumper from the wing to give Fowler a 44-14 lead.

Katie Spicer ties up the ball. The Possession Arrow is looking for its car keys to drive to the grocery store and misses the play. Fulton is awarded possession. A Pirate dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Fowler misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Fulton misses a ten foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Fowler is fouled on a fast break layup and misses two free throws with 6.8 seconds to play in the half. Elizabeth Hufnagel blocks a Fulton threeball from the wing as the buzzer announces that the half is over.

At halftime, Fowler has a 44-14 lead.

Dayten Lambert has 7 points to lead the Fulton scoring.

Katie Spicer has 7 points for Fowler at halftime. Selena Stump and Izzy Halfmann each have 6 points.

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

This is an all-piano version of the Beach Boys “Good Vibrations!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3482fQh0Rdo

Here is a vintage Blues song, “Blues Stay Away from Me” sung and played in a vintage style! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TtsKUnqw7g

Fowler has the ball to open the third quarter. Rebecca Smith hits a layup for the Eagles. Grace O’Hare hits the floor to tie up the ball. The Possession Arrow is still digging through her purse to find her car keys; the play is missed and the ball is awarded to Fulton. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The Eagles get the offensive rebound. Izzy Halfmann is fouled on a shot and hits to free throws to boost Fowler to a 48-14 lead with 7:05 to play in quarter number three.

Izzy Halfmann steals the ball for the Eagles. She passes to Rebecca Smith, who hits a layup for Fowler. Brooke Weber knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner. Katie Spicer passes to Grace O’Hare, who hits a short hook shot for the Eagles. Kalyn Duflo passes to Kaya Canfield, who throws in a three point shot from the corner for Fulton. Brooke Weber hits a six foot shot from the side to give Fowler a 54-17 lead.

Rebecca Smith steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler turns the ball over. Fulton is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Fowler misses a layup. Katie Spicer grabs the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a six footer from the side of the lane. Jaci Canfield saves the rebound for Fulton; her momentum carries her into the stands.

Katie Spicer knocks the ball out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Fulton misses a three pointer from the side. Fowler misses a driving layup. Fulton misses a driving eight foot shot from the side of the lane; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Pirates get another opportunity. Fulton bounces its inbound pass out of bounds. Fowler misses a driving layup. Paige Thelen gets the offensive rebound for the Eagles. Fowler misses a layup. Selena Stump gets the offensive rebound, drives and hits an eight foot shot in the lane to push Fowler to a 56-17 lead.

Fulton misses a driving layup. Fowler misses a layup. Neelah O’Rourke gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Kelcie Pung throws in a threeball from the wing for the Eagles. Neelah O’Rourke blocks a Fulton layup. Fowler misse a three point shot from the wing. Neelah O’Rourke gets the offensive rebound for Fowler. Fowler misses a layup. Fulton misses a threeball from the corner. Selena Stump passes to Kelcie Pung, who hits a three point shot from the wing to boost the Eagle lead to 62-17.

Selena Stump steals the ball for the Eagles. Fowler misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Fulton gets the ball. Selena Stump steals the ball for Fowler. Kelcie Pung passes to Cali Thelen, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Fowler. Fulton misses an eight foot shot from the side. Neither team is able to inbound the ball before the buzzer blares.

After three quarters, Fowler has a 65-17 lead.

Fulton has the ball to open the final quarter. Destiny Seida passes to Kalyn Duflo, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Fulton. Selena Stump passes to Neelah O’Rourke, who hits a layup for the Eagles. Fulton bounces a pass out of bounds. Fowler kicks the ball and turns it over. Cali Thelen blocks a Fulton twelve footer from the side. Kalyn Duflo knocks and Eagle pass out of the lane and out of bounds; Fowler retains possession. Cali Thelen passes to Selena Stump, who hits a three point shot from the wing to givre Fowler a 70-20 lead.

Destiny Seida saves the ball to prevent a Pirate turnover. Fulton misses a three point shot from the wing. Saige Miller hits a layup for Fowler to give the Eagles a 72-20 lead.

Fulton misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Lexi Sorah gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Olivia Leavitt inbounds the ball to Sophia Akin, who hits one of her two free throws for Fulton. Destiny Seida steals the ball for Fulton. Brooklyn Kanous alertly saves the ball to avoid a Pirate over and back violation. Lynnae Podolak saves the ball to prevent a Fulton turnover. The Pirates miss a layup. Fowler dribbles out the clock.

Fowler wins the game by the final score of 72-21 and will play St. Patrick in Friday’s district final.

Dayten Lambert led the Fulton scoring with 7 points. Kaya Canfield added 6 points. Olivia Leavitt and Kalyn Duflo each added 3 points. Sophia Akin and Jaci Canfield each scored 1 point.

Selena Stump led the Fowler scoring with 11 points. Rebecca Smith, Kelcie Pung and Izzy Halfmann each contributed 8 points. Grace O’Hare, Katie Spicer and Brooke Weber each chipped in with 7 points. Elizabeth Hufnagel scored 5 points. Paige Thelen added 4 points. Cali Thelen put in 3 points. Neelah O’Rourke and Saige Miller each tallied 2 points.

St. Patrick played Lansing Christian in the evening’s other semifinal game. Here is the play by play. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/03/07/lansing-christian-vs-portland-st-patrick-girls-basketball-mhsaa-district-semifinal-the-bleacher-denizen-march-6-2024-by-chuck-krafft/