Kingston vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist – – Boys Basketball Division 4 Quarterfinal – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 12, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

In this video of “Red River Valley”, I inform the listeners that you never know where the Red River Valley will lead you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

One place where it does NOT lead is St. Clair County Community College. Fortunately, GPS knows the way that will get you there, so I will be there to cover tonight’s game.

Tonight the Bleacher Denizen will be covering the State Quarterfinal Boys basketball game between the Chargers of Allen Park Inter-City Baptist and the Cardinals from Kingston. Kingston enters this game with a 18-8 record while Allen Park Inter-City Baptist is at 22-4.

Kingston Coach Derek Flikkie provided me with some information about his Cardinal players. Owen Corlis is a senior leader from his guard position. He has scored over 1000 points in his career; he is equally adept at slashing to the basket or shooting from the three point line. He is also a tough, hard-nosed perimeter defender.

Austin DeRoseau is Kingston’s man in the post where he is a fine scorer, defender and rebounder. He also has the ability to step out and hit midrange or even three point shots. On defense, he is a smart player who uses his size and positioning to alter and increase the degree of difficulty of many opponents’ shots. Peyton Harrington is a versatile player who can run the point or play near the basket at a forward position. He can score in many ways including spot up jumpers, putbacks and slashes to the basket. He has quick hands that generate many turnovers that he turns into layups. He is a quality defender either in the post or on the perimeter.

Tanner James is another defender who can play anywhere on the floor. He generally defends the opponent’s best offensive player. He moves really well without the ball to get into position where his teammates can pass him the ball to score. Gavin Michalski is an excellent three point shooter and perimeter defender. Colin Corlis is a sophomore who knows the game really well. He has a team approach to basketball and does many of the unsung things that good teams need like screening, moving the ball, helping on defense, etc. He is a strong rebounder as well.

Assistant Coach Evan Kraatz was generous with information about his Charger players. Ethan Esse is a scoring point guard who can score at the rim, in the midrange and from the three point line. He is a fine ball handler. Carlos Jackson is a versatile player who is quick enough to defend on the perimeter and tall enough to help in the post. He is an excellent scorer and rebounder who also handles the ball well.

Andrew Frank is an athletic wing who is also versatile enough to defend anywhere on the floor and is a top notch rebounder. He has a solid three point shot as well. Christian Cox is an excellent on-ball perimeter defender who frequently defends the opponent’s best offensive perimeter player. Griffin Golden is a strong defender in the post or on the perimeter as well. He is also an effective rebounder.

Jackson Dawson is a freshman who is a versatile scorer; he slashes to the basket well and is also a threat from the three point line. Asher Bettinger is also a versatile scorer who defends wings effectively. Josh Hamilton is a strong perimeter defender who is also a good three point shooter. Mason Kowalski is a good passer and playmaker who can score on slashes to the basket.

It was quite a drive to get to Port Huron from Lansing, but after a couple hours, I got to Port Huron (I think for the first time ever) and found my way into the game without getting lost. (For your directionally challenged Bleacher Denizen, this was quite a feat!!)

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 days of yore when he was actually considered to be “young.” People criticized the Bleacher Denizen’s outside shooting. He started making progress when he began using a catapult to hoist his shots, but the Basketball Powers that Be frowned on that. Alas, your Bleacher Denizen’s career as a three point sniper was nipped in the bud.

Inter-City Baptist (hereafter to be known as “Baptist” to save wear and tear on your aging Bleacher Denizen’s fingers) wins the opening tap. The Chargers pass to a teammate who is unfortunately standing on the baseline. Kingston misses a sixteen foot shot from the side.

The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow looks up from its Sudoku puzzle and decides to award the ball to Kingston. The Cardinals miss a driving layup. The Chargers misfire on a threeball from the side. Austin DeRoseau passes to Gavin Michalski, who hits a layup to give Kingston a 2-0 lead.

Pwyton Harrington steals the ball for the Cardinals. Kingston misses a three point shot from the wing. Carlos Jackson passes to Ethan Esse, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give the lead to the Chargers. Austin DeRoseau passes to Gavin Michalski, who hits a three point shot for Kingston. Baptist misses a threeball from the wing. Owen Corlis hits a fast break layup for Kingston to give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.

Baptist misses a threeball from the side. Griffin Golden gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Ethan Esse swishes a threeball from the wing for the Chargers. Kingston misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Ethan Esse spins and hits an athletic left-handed bank twelve foot banked hook shot from the side. The score is now Ethan Esse 8 Kingston 7.

Peyton Harrington hits a three point shot from the side to retake the lead for Kingston. Baptist misfires on a triple try from the side. Owen Corlis hits a fast break layup in heavy traffic for Kingston. Carlos Jackson hits a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane for the Chargers. Kingston misses a three pointer from the top of the key. Baptist misses a layup. Andrew Frank hits a putback for the Chargers to tie the game at 12-12.

Owen Corlis hits a ten foot lean back shot off the dribble for Kingston. Baptist misses a three point shot from the side. Andrew Frank hits a putback for the Chargers to tie the game. Payton Harrington passes to Austin DeRoseau, who hits a layup to give Kingston a two point lead. Ethan Esse makes a beautiful drive; he uses a fake to free himself and hits a scoop shot to tie the game at 16-16.

Kingston misses a heave as the first quarter buzzer announces the end of the period. The game is tied 16-16 as we head into the second quarter.

Baptist inbounds the ball to open the second quarter. The Chargers lose the ball out of bounds. Kingston misses a driving layup. Baptist misses a fifteen footer from the side. Andrew Frank gets the offensive rebound for Baptist. The Chargers throw a pass out of bounds. Kingston misses a threeball from the side. Carlos Jackson passes to Andrew Frank, who hits a short hook shot in the lane to give the Chargers an 18-16 lead.

Tanner James passes to Owen Corlis, who hits a three point shot from the side to give the lead to Kingston. Baptist misses a three point shot from the side. Andrew Frank grabs yet another offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a layup. Kingston misses a driving layup. The Chargers throw a pass out of bounds. Payton Harrington gets into the lane and hits an eight foot shot to give Kingston a 21-18 lead.

Baptist misfires on a threeball from the side. Kingston misses a banked eight foot shot from the side. Josh Hamilton passes to Mason Kowalski, who hits a three point shot from the side for Baptist to tie the game. Josh Hamilton harasses a Cardinal dribbler into losing the ball out of bounds.

Baptist misses a jump shot off the dribble from the side. Christian Cox grabs the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Christian Cox gets another offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a layup. Mason Kowalski is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws to give the Chargers a 22-21 lead with 3:27 remaining in the second quarter.

Kingston misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Baptist misses a threeball from the side. Andrew Frank steals a Cardinal pass into the lane. Austin DeRoseau blocks a Charger jump shot from the free throw line. Austin DeRoseau hits a fast break layup for Kingston. Baptist misses a driving layup. Austin DeRoseau passes to Colin Corlis, who hits a layup to boost the Cardinals to a 25-22 lead.

Baptist misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble in the lane. Josh Hamilton closely guards a Cardinal dribbler for five seconds and causes a Kingston turnover. Baptist misses a driving layup. Andrew Frank gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a layup. Kingston rebounds the ball and the second quarter buzzer stops play before they can bring the ball up court.

At halftime, Kingston has a 25-22 lead.

Ethan Esse has 10 points for Allen Park Inter-City Baptist at halftime and Andrew Frank has 6.

Owen Corlis leads Kingston with 9 points and Austin DeRoseau has 6 points.

As there is no halftime entertainment, I hope you will enjoy a couple videos from my You Tube Channel. “This Land is Your Land” is a duet of the popular Patriotic song with my friend Mark Wilcox sharing the lead! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ9XoJtKIbE

I also hope you will enjoy this original Christian tune that my father helped me to write (from my You Tube Channel.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYixQ0OWsd4

Kingston inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Cardinals miss a fifteen foot shot off the dribble from the side. Baptist misses a threeball from the corner. Owen Corlis hits a fast break eight foot banked shot from the side, is fouled and makes his free throw. With 7:12 remaining in the third quarter, Kingston’s lead is at 28-22.

The Chargers miss a driving layup. Kingston misses a three point shot from the wing. The Chargers are assessed with a traveling violation. Kingston misses a layup and fouls on the rebound. Baptist misses a three pointer from the side. Christian Cox snags the offensive rebound for the Chargers. The Chargers misfire on a triple try from the side. Christian Cox gets the offensive rebound for Baptist. The Chargers misfire on a threeball from the wing.

Carlos Jackson gets his hand on the ball and a Kingston dribbler loses it out of bounds. Baptist misses a fifteen footer off the dribble from the side. Gavin Michalski passes to Austin DeRoseau, who hits an athletic spinning reverse layup (that’s as well as your Aging Bleacher Denizen can describe it) to give Kingston a 30-22 lead.

Baptist misses a threeball from the wing. Christian Cox gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a three pointer from the corner. Asher Bettinger plays fierce defense and forces Kingston to miss a layup. Baptist misses a fast break layup. Kingston misses a three point shot from the wing. Mason Kowalski is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Kingston lead to 30-23 with 3:44 to play in quarter number three.

Kingston travels with the ball. (Basketball cliches can be interesting. Traveling without the ball is probably not very newsworthy.) Baptist misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Mason Kowalski gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Owen Corlis makes a layup in heavy traffic to give Kingston a 32-23 lead.

Mason Kowalksi passes to Asher Bettinger, who hits a layup for the Chargers. Kingston misses a six foot shot off the dribble from the baseline and fouls on the rebound. Mason Kowalski passes to Christian Cox, who hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Kingston lead to 32-28.

Kingston misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Austin DeRoseau hits a putback for the Cardinals. Tanner James gets his hand on the ball and knocks it out of bounds. The Chargers retain possession. Baptist misses as three point shot from the corner. Ethan Esse gets the offensive rebound for the Chargers. Baptist misses a three pointer from the wing. Owen Corlis inbounds the ball to Peyton Harrington, who hits a three point shot from the corner to boost Kingston to a 37-28 lead.

Gavin Michalski gets his hand on the ball, but the Chargers are able to recover. Baptist misses a layup. Carlos Jackson is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws with 10.4 seconds remaining in the period. Mason Kowalski blocks a Kingston ten foot shot in the lane just before the third quarter buzzer sounds.

After three quarters, Kingston has a 37-29 lead.

Baptist inbounds the ball to start out the fourth quarter. The Chargers travel on a drive into the lane. Kingston misses a fast break layup. Carlos Jackson passes to Mason Kowalski, who hits a three point shot from the wing for the Chargers. Andrew Frank blocks a Cardinal layup; the ball goes out of bounds and Baptist takes possession. Baptist misses a three point shot from the wing. Christian Cox steals the ball for the Chargers, but steps on the line. Tanner James passes to Payton Harrington, who hits a three point shot from the wing to give Kingston a 40-32 lead.

Andrew Frank responds by making a three point shot from the corner for Baptist. Kingston misses a layup. Ethan Esse drives and hits a layup for the Chargers. Kingston misses a driving ten footer from the side. Tanner James pulls down the offensive rebound for the Cardinals. Kingston is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. With 5:23 left on the clock, Kingston still holds a 40-37 lead.

Ethan Esse passes to Andrew Frank, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Baptist to tie the game. Andrew Frank’s tough defense in the lane causes a Kingston traveling violation. Andrew Frank drives, does a jump stop and hits a layup to give the Chargers a 42-40 lead.

Kingston misses an eight foot hot from the side of the lane. Carlos Jackson passes to Ethan Esse, who slings in a threeball from the corner for the Chargers. Kingston misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the baseline. Ethan Esse drives and hits a layup for the Chargers. Kingston misses a three point shot from the side. Ethan Esse is fouled and hits one of his two free throws to give his Chargers a 48-40 lead with 1:37 remaining in the contest.

Peyton Harrington passes to Nicholas Cummings, who hits a three point shot from the side for Kingston. Mason Kowalski is fouled and hits two free throws to Baptist. Owen Corlis hits a three point shot from the wing to cut the Charger lead to 50-46.

Ethan Esse is fouled and the foul is ruled to be intentional. Ethan Esse hits two free throws for Baptist. Baptist inbounds the ball and Ethan Esse is fouled. He hits one of his two free throws to give his Chargers a 53-46 lead with 1:05 left in the game.

Kingston misses a driving layup. Andrew Frank is fouled and hits one of his two free throws for the Chargers. Kingston throws a pass out of bounds. Ethan Esse is fouled and hits two free throws for Baptist. Kingston misses a three pointer from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Kingston gets another opportunity. Ethan Esse steals the Cardinal inbound pass, is fouled and hits two free throws to give the Chargers a 58-46 lead with 35.4 seconds remaining.

Carlos Jackson blocks a Cardinal triple try from the top of the key. Kingston recovers the loose ball. The Cardinals miss a jump shot. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Chargers take possession; they run out the last twenty seconds on the clock.

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist wins this quarterfinal game by the score of 58-46 and will face Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in Thursday’s semifinal game at Michigan State’s Breslin Center.

Owen Corlis led the Kingston scoring with 17 points. Peyton Harrington contributed 11 points and Austin DeRoseau chipped in with 10 points. Nicholas Cummings and Gavin Michalski each added 3 points and Colin Corlis notched 2 points.

Ethan Esse scored 25 points to lead the Charger scoring. Andrew Frank added 15 points. Mason Kowalski joined his teammates in double figures with 10 points. Christian Cox and Carlos Jackson each added 3 points. Asher Bettinger tallied 2 points.