Fulton at Bath – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 3, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, the Fulton Pirates are visiting the Bath Fighting Bees in the girls’ basketball season opener for both teams! It is always exciting to start the new season. Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m the ancient Greek Phoenix rising from the ashes to have a new beginning. (Yeah, sometimes, the Bleacher Denizen gets a bit over-dramatic.)

Fulton Coach Brandon Trefil was generous with his time and information about his Pirate players. Jaci Canfield is strong at slashing to the basket; she is also a fine rebounder and defender. Kaci Canfield is a versatile offensive player who slashes to the basket, handles the ball, shoots the threeball and can defend all over the court. Dayten Lambert also is tough driving to the basket, passing, handling the ball as well as being able to defend any position.

Kalyn Duflo is a point guard who defends her position well. She can handle the ball and run the offense as well as being a threat from the three point line. Julia Bolina, a senior transfer student, is a fine rebounder and defender in the post. Addison Warnke also rebounds and defends well in the post. Brooklyn Kanous is an absolute ball of energy on defense. She is capable of stealing the ball from anyone at any time.

Bath Coach Gabe Sowa provided this information about his Bee players.

Aubri Torok is a senior returning all-conference player who does everything you would want from a guard. She is a strong ball-handler and passer who is extremely tough to guard when she drives to the basket and is also a threat from the three point line. On defense, she is a strong rebounder who can harass players all over the floor. She creates a lot of turnovers for the opposition.

Anna Schaibly had a big role on last year’s successful Bee team. She is a strong three point shooter who also contributes her fair share to the Bath defense. Anna Poppema is a fine defender who can hit the three point shot. Olivia Brimley is a sophomore in her first year on the varsity. She is a fine scorer, rebounder and defender in the post. Aubrey Dunckel is a fine defender anywhere on the floor; she also rebounds well and is a good three point shooter.

Maci McCrimmon is a tall guard who is an absolute menace to other teams on defense. Quinn Chamberlain is a strong three point shooter. Jordyn Lira is a solid rebounder and defender in the post. Eva Arambula is a freshman who brings fine defensive intensity to the wing position.

Bath dominated the JV game and won by a final score of 55-8.

Camryn Cunningham lead the Fulton scoring with 4 points. Shyanne Abrams scored 2 points. Macie Akers and ava Duflo each tallied 1 point.

Faith Hughes led the Bath JVs with 12 points. Norah Ojerio contributed 11 points and Harper Williams added 10 points. Macey Pascoe tossed in 6 points. Brooke Kares scored 5 points. Courtney Lawhorne added 4 points. Mya Vietzke, Kalyn Proctor and Amelia Briggs each put in 2 points. Lyla King scored 1 point.

It is now time to review the results of this game through the recently-checked eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who never escaped church league when he attempted to hoop in the days of yore. (I’m currently getting new glasses.) As far as basketball went, your Bleacher Denizen never completely grasped the concept of shooting only at the correct basket. While opposing crowds would cheer when the Bleacher Denizen put shots in their basket, the Bleacher Denizen’s coach thought differently about the whole thing.

Bath wins the opening tap. Aubri Torok passes to Anna Schaibly, who tosses in a three point shot from the side to give the Bees the first three points of the game. Olivia Brimley blocks a Fulton shot in the lane. Julia Bolina steals the ball for Fulton. Olivia Brimley steals the ball for Bath. Bath is whistled for a travel. Fulton is whistled for a three second violation.

Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. Olivia Brimley gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misfires on a triple try from the wing. Anna Poppema steals the ball and is fouled on a fast break layup. She hits one of her two free throws to give Bath a 4-0 lead with 6:29 left in the opening quarter.

Anna Poppema gets the offensive rebound from her missed free throw. Bath misses a jump shot. Fulton reciprocates and misses a jump shot. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Bees take possession. Bath misses a three pointer from the side. Fulton fouls on the rebound. Bath misses a six foot hook shot in the lane and fouls on the rebound.

Anna Schaibly knocks the ball away from Fulton and Aubri Torok picks it up for Bath. Dayten Lambert ties the ball up for Fulton. The Possession Arrow and its winter decoration committee look up from their project and award the ball to Fulton. Maci McCrimmon steals the ball for Bath and passes to Anna Schaibly, who hits a three point shot from the side to boost Bath to a 7-0 lead.

Eva Arambula gets her hand on the inbound pass and Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Addison Warnke knocks the ball away from Bath, but the Bees recover. Aubrey Dunckel is fouled on a shot and hits two free throws to boost Bath to a 9-0 lead with 4:42 remaining in the opening quarter.

Maci McCrimmon knocks Fulton’s inbound pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Aubrey Dunckel steals the ball for Bath. Maci McCrimmon hits a fast break layup for the Bees. Maci McCrimmon knocks the Pirate inbound pass out of bounds; Fulton retains possession. Maci McCrimmon steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a fast break layup. Aubri Torok pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees and passes to Olivia Brimley, who hits a layup to give Bath a 13-0 lead.

Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Bath misfires on a triple try from the wing. Brooklyn Kanous passes to Addison Warnke, who is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to shave the Bath lead to 13-1 with 2:46 to play in the opening quarter.

Bath misses a three point shot from the side. Anna Schaibly pulls down the offensive rebound for the Bees. Jaci Canfield steals the ball for Fulton. Fulton throws a pass out of bounds. Brooklyn Kanous steals the ball for Fulton. Jaci Canfield passes to Kalyn Duflo, who throws in a threeball to cut the Bath lead to 13-4.

Addison Warnke knocks the ball out of bounds; Bath retains possession. Addison Warnke strips the ball away from a Bath ball handler; the ball goes out of bounds and Bath gets another possession. Bath is called for a traveling violation. Fulton loses a pass out of bounds. Bath misses a driving hook shot. Aubrey Dunckel snares the offensive rebound and beats the buzzer with a layup to finish out the first quarter.

After one quarter, Bath holds a 15-4 lead.

Fulton has the ball to open quarter number two. The Pirates are called for traveling. Bath misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Aubrey Dunckel hits a putback for Bath and is fouled. She misses her free throw. With 7:28 to play in the second quarter, the Bath lead is at 17-4.

Aubrey Dunckel causes a tie up. The Possession Arrow and the decorating committee are quite impressed with her hustle and award the ball to Bath. Aubri Torok passes to Quinn Chamberlain, who hits a three point shot from the side for Bath. Fulton misses a three pointer from the corner. Julia Bolina snares the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Aubri Torok steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a fast break layup, but get the offensive rebound. Aubri Torok passes to Aubrey Dunckel, who hits a layup to give Bath a 22-4 lead.

Fulton misses a six foot shot in the lane. Bath is whistled for a three second violation. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing and fouls on the rebound. Kalyn Duflo steals the ball for the Pirates. Aubri Torok steals the ball for the Bees. Maci McCrimmon passes to Olivia Brimley, who banks in a short hook shot to elevate Bath to a 24-4 lead.

Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the baseline. Bath misses a layup. Olivia Brimley hits a putback for the Bees. Eva Arambula knocks the ball away from Fulton and Anna Schaibly picks it up for Bath. Bath misses a layup. The rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow and the decoration committee look up from their ice sculptures and decide that Bath should get the ball.

The Bees miss a three point shot from the corner. Fulton misses a layup. Bath misses a jumper from the free throw elbow. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Aubri Torok passes to Quinn Chamberlain, who throws in a threeball from the side to give Bath a 29-4 lead.

Fulton misses a driving layup. Jaci Canfield steals the ball for the Pirates. Aubri Torok steals the ball for the Bees. Anna Schaibly passes to Aubri Torok, who hits a six foot shot in the lane for Bath. Fulton loses the ball out of bounds. Aubri Torok saves an errant pass to prevent a Bee turnover and then passes to Anna Schaibly, who hits a three point shot from the side to give Bath a 34-4 lead.

Fulton misses a threeball from the wing as the halftime buzzer announces that it is here.

Bath has a 34-4 halftime lead.

Kalyn Duflo has 3 points to lead the Fulton scoring.

Anna Schaibly has 9 points to lead Bath. Aubrey Dunckel has 8 points. Olivia Brimley and Quinn Chamberlain each have 6 points.

Fulton has the ball to start out the third quarter. The Pirates miss a layup. Julia Bolina gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a layup. Julia Molina’s tough baseline defense forces a Bath dribbler to step out of bounds. Fulton misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Jaci Canfield gets the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Fulton misses a three point shot from the corner; the rebound goes out of bounds and Bath takes possession.

Bath is fouled on a driving scoop shot, but misses two free throws. Aubri Torok dives and steals the ball for the Bees. Bath is whistled for traveling on a too fast break. Fulton misses a three point shot from the side. Julia Bolina pulls down the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Olivia Brimley blocks a Fulton layup. The Pirates recover the ball, but miss a threeball from the wing.

Bath misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Aubri Torok gets the offensive rebound for Bath. The Bees miss a layup. Olivia Brimley hits a putback for the Bees. She is fouled and makes her free throw to give the Bees a 37-4 lead with 4:49 left in the third quarter.

Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the side. Brooklyn Kanous snags the offensive rebound for the Pirates. Kalyn Duflo passes to Jaci Canfield, who hits a three point shot from the side for Fulton. Bath misses a three point shot from the side. Aubri Torok gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Olivia Brimley is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Bath. With 3:56 remaining, Bath has a 38-7 lead.

Fulton misses a ten foot shot from the side. Bath misses a fast break layup. Aubri Torok steals a Fulton pass. Dayten Lambert gets her hand on the ball; Bath is able to retain possession. Bath misses a three pointer from the wing. Braelynn Barber gets the offensive rebound for the Bees. Bath misses a jump shot from the free throw elbow. Anna Poppema is fouled on the rebound and hits two free throws to extend the Bath lead to 40-7 with 2:18 to play in the third quarter.

Aubrey Dunckel steals the ball for the Bees. Bath misses a layup. Aubri Torok steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for the Bees. Fulton misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Kalyn Duflo gets the long offensive rebound and immediately sinks a jump shot from the free throw elbow for Fulton. Anna Poppema throws in a threeball from the side to give Bath a 45-9 lead.

Fulton misses a layup. Aubri Torok passes to Braelynn Barber, who banks in a three point shot from the side for Bath. (I was not close enough to hear whether she called “BANK!!”) Fulton misses a twenty-five foot shot as the buzzer blares.

After three quarters, Bath has a 48-9 lead.

Bath has the ball to begin the final quarter. Julia Bolina steals the ball for Fulton. Braelynn Barber knocks the ball away from Fulton and causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow and the winter decoration committee are struggling with a melting ice statue and miss the play; the ball is awarded to Fulton. Braelynn Barber steals the ball for Bath. The Bees miss a fast break layup. Braelynn Barber grabs the offensive rebound and flings the ball to Anna Schaibly, who hits a three point shot to give Bath a 51-9 lead.

Julia Bolina hits a jump shot from the free throw line for Fulton. Bath misses a three point shot from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Bath gets the ball back. Riley Hart makes a strong drive to the basket and is fouled as she shoots her layup. She misses her free throws. With about 5:20 remaining, the Bath lead is 51-11.

Jordyn Lira gets the offensive rebound for Bath. Bath misses a three point shot from the side and fouls on the rebound. Jordyn Lira causes a tieup. The Possession Arrow and the decoration committee have finished up. As they are drinking their hot chocolate, they decide to give the ball to Bath. The Bees miss a three point shot from the wing. Camryn Cunningham is fouled on a layup and hits one of her two free throws for Fulton. With about 2:30 to go, the Bath lead is at 51-12.

Natalie Leavitt gets her hand on the ball, but the Bees are able to recover. Bath misses a jump shot and the rebound is tied up. The Possession Arrow decrees that the ball shall go to Fulton. The Pirates miss a three pointer from the side. Julia Bolina gets the offensive rebound for Fulton. Fulton misses a threeball from the wing. Bath commits an offensive foul. Fulton misses a jump shot. Bath dribbles out the clock.

Bath wins the season opener for both teams by the final score of 51-12.

Kalyn Duflo had 5 points to lead the Fulton scoring. Jaci Canfield contributed 3 points and Julia Bolina added 2 points. Addison Warnke and Camryn Cunningham each tallied 1 point.

Anna Schaibly led Bath with 12 points. Olivia Brimley joined her teammate in double figures with 10 points. Aubrey Dunckel scored 8 points. Anna Poppema and Quinn Chamberlain each hit for 6 points. Aubri Torok scored 4 points to go along with many rebounds, steals and assists. Braelyn Barber added 3 points and Maci McCrimmon put in 2 points.